Treatment of fibroblast growth factor 21 (fgf21) related diseases by inhibition of natural antisense transcript to fgf21

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to antisense of oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of FGF21.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application claims the priority of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 61/322,352 filed Apr. 9, 2010 which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

Embodiments of the invention comprise oligonucleotides, modulatingexpression and/or function of FGF21 and associated molecules.

BACKGROUND

DNA-RNA and RNA-RNA hybridization are important to many aspects ofnucleic acid function including DNA replication, transcription, andtranslation. Hybridization is also central to a variety of technologiesthat either detect a particular nucleic acid or alter its expression.Antisense nucleotides, for example, disrupt gene expression byhybridizing to target RNA, thereby interfering with RNA splicing,transcription, translation, and replication. Antisense DNA has the addedfeature that DNA-RNA hybrids serve as a substrate for digestion byribonuclease H, an activity that is present in most cell types.Antisense molecules can be delivered into cells, as is the case foroligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), or they can be expressed from endogenousgenes as RNA molecules. The FDA recently approved an antisense drug,VITRAVENE™ (for treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis), reflecting thatantisense has therapeutic utility.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to present a summary of the invention tobriefly indicate the nature and substance of the invention. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

In one embodiment, the invention provides methods for inhibiting theaction of a natural antisense transcript by using antisenseoligonucleotide(s) targeted to any region of the natural antisensetranscript resulting in up-regulation of the corresponding sense gene.It is also contemplated herein that inhibition of the natural antisensetranscript can be achieved by siRNA, ribozymes and small molecules,which are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

One embodiment provides a method of modulating function and/orexpression of an FGF21 polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues invivo or in vitro comprising contacting said cells or tissues with anantisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides in length wherein saidoligonucleotide has at least 50% sequence identity to a reversecomplement of a polynucleotide comprising 5 to 30 consecutivenucleotides within nucleotides 1 to 4246 of SEQ ID NO: 2 therebymodulating function and/or expression of the FGF21 polynucleotide inpatient ceils or tissues in vivo or in vitro.

In an embodiment, an oligonucleotide targets a natural antisensesequence of FGF21 polynucleotides, for example, nucleotides set forth inSEQ ID NOS: 2, and any variants, alleles, homologs, mutants,derivatives, fragments and complementary sequences thereto. Examples ofantisense oligonucleotides are set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9.

Another embodiment provides a method of modulating function and/orexpression of an FGF21 polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues invivo or in vitro comprising contacting said cells or tissues with anantisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides in length wherein saidoligonucleotide has at least 50% sequence identity to a reversecomplement of the an antisense of the FGF21 polynucleotide; therebymodulating function and/or expression of the FGF21 polynucleotide inpatient cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro.

Another embodiment provides a method of modulating function and/orexpression of an FGF21 polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues invivo or in vitro comprising contacting said cells or tissues with anantisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides in length wherein saidoligonucleotide has at least 50% sequence identity to an antisenseoligonucleotide to an FGF21 antisense polynucleotide; thereby modulatingfunction and/or expression of the FGF21 polynucleotide in patient cellsor tissues in vivo or in vitro.

In an embodiment, a composition comprises one or more antisenseoligonucleotides which bind to sense and/or antisense FGF21polynucleotides.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotides comprise one or more modified orsubstituted nucleotides.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotides comprise one or more modifiedbonds.

In yet another embodiment, the modified nucleotides comprise modifiedbases comprising phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate, peptide nucleicacids, 2′-O-methyl, fluoro- or carbon, methylene or other locked nucleicacid (LNA) molecules. Preferably, the modified nucleotides are lockednucleic acid molecules, including α-L-LNA.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotides are administered to a patientsubcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravenously or intraperitoneally.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotides are administered in apharmaceutical composition. A treatment regimen comprises administeringthe antisense compounds at least once to patient; however, thistreatment can be modified to include multiple doses over a period oftime. The treatment can be combined with one or more other types oftherapies.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotides are encapsulated in a liposome orattached to a carrier molecule (e.g. cholesterol, TAT peptide).

Other aspects are described infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph of real time PCR results showing the foldchange+standard deviation in FGF21 mRNA after treatment of MCF-7 cellswith phosphorothioate oligonucleotides introduced using Lipofectamine2000, as compared to control. Bars denoted as CUR-1469 to CUR-1475correspond to samples treated with SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9 respectively. FIG.2 is a graph of real time PCR results showing the fold change+standarddeviation in FGF21 mRNA after treatment of HepG2 cells withphosphorothioate oligonucleotides introduced using Lipofectamine 2000,as compared to control. Bars denoted as CUR-1469 to CUR-1475 correspondto samples treated with SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9 respectively.

Sequence Listing Description—SEQ ID NO: 1: Homo sapiens fibroblastgrowth factor 21 (FGF21), mRNA (NCBI Accession No.: NM_(—)09113); SEQ IDNO: 2; Natural FGF21 antisense sequence (Hs.69747); SEQ ID NOs: 3 to 9:Antisense oligonucleotides * indicates phosphothioate bond

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several aspects of the invention are described below with reference toexample applications for illustration, it should be understood thatnumerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth toprovide a full understanding of the invention. One having ordinary skillin the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the inventioncan be practiced without one or more of the specific details or withother methods. The present invention is not limited by the ordering ofacts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/orconcurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustratedacts or events are required to implement a methodology in accordancewith the present invention.

All genes, gene names, and gene products disclosed herein are intendedto correspond to homologs from any species for which the compositionsand methods disclosed herein are applicable. Thus, the terms include,but are not limited to genes and gene products from humans and mice. Itis understood that when a gene or gene product from a particular speciesis disclosed, this disclosure is intended to be exemplary only, and isnot to be interpreted as a limitation unless the context in which itappears clearly indicates. Thus, for example, for the genes disclosedherein, which in some embodiments relate to mammalian nucleic acid andamino acid sequences are intended to encompass homologous and/ororthologous genes and gene products from other animals including, butnot limited to other mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Inan embodiment, the genes or nucleic acid sequences are human.

Definitions

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including”,“includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used ineither the detailed description and/or the claims, such terms areintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”

The term “about” or “approximately” means within an acceptable errorrange for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill inthe art, which will depend in part on how the value is measured ordetermined, i.e., the limitations of the measurement system. Forexample, “about” can mean within 1 or more than 1 standard deviation,per the practice in the art. Alternatively, “about” can mean a range ofup to 20%, preferably up to 10%, more preferably up to 5%, and morepreferably still up to 1% of a given value. Alternatively, particularlywith respect to biological systems or processes, the term can meanwithin an order of magnitude, preferably within 5-fold, and morepreferably within 2-fold, of a value. Where particular values aredescribed in the application and claims, unless otherwise stated theterm “about” meaning within an acceptable error range for the particularvalue should be assumed.

As used herein, the term “mRNA” means the presently known mRNAtranscript(s) of a targeted gene, and any further transcripts which maybe elucidated.

By “antisense oligonucleotides” or “antisense compound” is meant an RNAor DNA molecule that binds to another RNA or DNA (target RNA, DNA). Forexample, if it is an RNA oligonucleotide it binds to another RNA targetby means of RNA-RNA interactions and alters the activity of the targetRNA. An antisense oligonucleotide can upregulate or downregulateexpression and/or function of a particular polynucleotide. Thedefinition is meant to include any foreign RNA or DNA molecule which isuseful from a therapeutic, diagnostic, or other viewpoint. Suchmolecules include, for example, antisense RNA or DNA molecules,interference RNA (RNAi), micro RNA, decoy RNA molecules, siRNA,enzymatic RNA, therapeutic editing RNA and agonist and antagonist RNA,antisense oligomeric compounds, antisense oligonucleotides, externalguide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides, alternate splicers, primers,probes, and other oligomeric compounds that hybridise to at least aportion of the target nucleic acid. As such, these compounds may beintroduced in the form of single-stranded, double-stranded, partiallysingle-stranded, or circular oligomeric compounds.

In the context of this invention, the term “oligonucleotide” refers toan oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleicacid (DNA) or mimetics thereof. The term “oligonucleotide”, alsoincludes linear or circular oligomers of natural and/or modifiedmonomers or linkages, including deoxyribonucleosides, ribonucleosides,substituted and alpha-anomeric forms thereof, peptide nucleic acids(PNA), locked nucleic acids (LNA), phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate,and the like. Oligonucleotides are capable of specifically binding to atarget polynucleotide by way of a regular pattern of monomer-to-monomerinteractions, such as Watson-Crick type of base pairing. Hoögsteen orreverse Hoögsteen types of base pairing, or the like.

The oligonucleotide may be “chimeric”, that is, composed of differentregions. In the context of this invention “chimeric” compounds areoligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemical regions, forexample, DNA region(s), RNA region(s). PNA region(s) etc. Each chemicalregion is made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide inthe case of an oligonucleotides compound. These oligonucleotidestypically comprise at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide ismodified in order to exhibit one or more desired properties. The desiredproperties of the oligonucleotide include, but are not limited, forexample, to increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increasedcellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the targetnucleic acid. Different regions of the oligonucleotide may thereforehave different properties. The chimeric oligonucleotides of the presentinvention can be formed as mixed structures of two or moreoligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/oroligonucleotide analogs as described above.

The oligonucleotide can be composed of regions that can be linked in“register”, that is, when the monomers are linked consecutively, as innative DNA, or linked via spacers. The spacers are intended toconstitute a covalent “bridge” between the regions and have in preferredcases a length not exceeding about 100 carbon atoms. The spacers maycarry different functionalities, for example, having positive ornegative charge, carry special nucleic acid binding properties(intercalators, groove binders, toxins, fluorophors etc), beinglipophilic, inducing special secondary structures like, for example,alanine containing peptides that induce alpha-helices.

As used herein “FGF21” and “Fibroblast growth factor 21” are inclusiveof all family members, mutants, alleles, fragments, species, coding andnoncoding sequences, sense and antisense polynucleotide strands, etc.

As used herein, the words “Fibroblast growth factor 21”, FGF21, FGF-21,UNQ3115 and PRO10196, are considered the same in the literature and areused interchangeably in the present application.

As used herein, the term “oligonucleotide specific for” or“oligonucleotide which targets” refers to an oligonucleotide having asequence (i) capable of forming a stable complex with a portion of thetargeted gene, or (ii) capable of forming a stable duplex with a portionof a mRNA transcript of the targeted gene. Stability of the complexesand duplexes can be determined by theoretical calculations and/or invitro assays. Exemplary assays for determining stability ofhybridization complexes and duplexes ate described in the Examplesbelow.

As used herein, the term “target nucleic acid” encompasses DNA, RNA(comprising premRNA and mRNA) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNAderived from such RNA, coding, noncoding sequences, sense or antisensepolynucleotides. The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compoundwith its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of thenucleic acid. This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid bycompounds, which specifically hybridize to it, is generally referred toas “antisense”. The functions of DNA to be interfered include, forexample, replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to beinterfered, include all vital functions such as, for example,translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translationof protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNAspecies, and catalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitatedby the RNA. The overall effect of such interference with target nucleicacid function is modulation of the expression of an encoded product oroligonucleotides.

RNA interference “RNAi” is mediated by double stranded RNA (dsRNA)molecules that have sequence-specific homology to their “target” nucleicacid sequences. In certain embodiments of the present invention, themediators are 5-25 nucleotide “small interfering” RNA duplexes (siRNAs).The siRNAs are derived from the processing of dsRNA by an RNase enzymeknown as Dicer. siRNA duplex products are recruited into a multi-proteinsiRNA complex termed RISC (RNA Induced Silencing Complex). Withoutwishing to be bound by any particular theory, a RISC is then believed tobe guided to a target nucleic acid (suitably mRNA), where the siRNAduplex interacts in a sequence-specific way to mediate cleavage in acatalytic fashion. Small interfering RNAs that can be used in accordancewith the present invention can be synthesized and used according toprocedures that are well known in the art and that will be familiar tothe ordinarily skilled artisan. Small interfering RNAs for use in themethods of the present invention suitably comprise between about 1 toabout 50 nucleotides (nt). In examples of non limiting embodiments,siRNAs can comprise about 5 to about 40 nt, about 5 to about 30 nt,about 10 nt, about 30 nt, about 15 to about 25 nt, or about 20-25nucleotides.

Selection of appropriate oligonucleotides is facilitated by usingcomputer programs that automatically align nucleic acid sequences andindicate regions of identity or homology. Such programs are used tocompare nucleic acid sequences obtained, for example, by searchingdatabases such as GenBank or by sequencing PCR products. Comparison ofnucleic acid sequences from a range of species allows the selection ofnucleic acid sequences that display an appropriate degree of identitybetween species. In the case of genes that have not been sequenced.Southern blots are performed to allow a determination of the degree ofidentity between genes in target species and other species. Byperforming Southern blots at varying degrees of stringency, as is wellknown in the art, it is possible to obtain an approximate measure ofidentity. These procedures allow the selection of oligonucleotides thatexhibit a high degree of complementarity to target nucleic acidsequences in a subject to be controlled and a lower degree ofcomplementarity to corresponding nucleic acid sequences in otherspecies. One skilled in the art will realize that there is considerablelatitude in selecting appropriate regions of genes for use in thepresent invention.

By “enzymatic RNA” is meant an RNA molecule with enzymatic activity(Cech, (1988) J. American Med. Assoc. 260, 3030-3035). Enzymatic nucleicacids (ribozymes) acid by first binding to a target RNA. Such bindingoccurs through the target binding portion of an enzymatic nucleic acidwhich is held in close proximity to an enzymatic portion of the moleculethat acts to cleave the target RNA. Thus, the enzymatic nucleic acidfirst recognizes and then binds a target RNA through base pairing, andonce bound to the correct site, acts enzymatically to cut the targetRNA.

By “decoy RNA” is meant an RNA molecule that mimics the natural bindingdomain for a ligand. The decoy RNA therefore competes with naturalbinding target for the binding of a specific ligand. For example, it hasbeen shown that over-expression of HIV trans-activation response (TAR)RNA can act as a “decoy” and efficiently binds HIV tat protein, therebypreventing it from binding to TAR sequences encoded in the HIV RNA. Thisis meant to be a specific example. Those in the art will recognize thatthis is but one example, and other embodiments can be readily generatedusing techniques generally known in the art.

As used herein, the term “monomers” typically indicates monomers linkedby phosphodiester bonds or analogs thereof to form oligonucleotidesranging in size from a few monomeric units, e.g., from about 3-4, toabout several hundreds of monomeric units. Analogs of phosphodiesterlinkages include: phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate,methylphosphomates, phosphoroselenoate, phosphoramidate, and the like,as more fully described below.

The term “nucleotide” covers naturally occurring nucleotides as well asnonnaturally occurring nucleotides. It should be clear to the personskilled in the art that various nucleotides which previously have beenconsidered “non-naturally occurring” have subsequently been found innature. Thus, “nucleosides” includes not only the known purine andpyrimidine heterocycles-containing molecules, but also heterocyclicanalogues and tautomers thereof. Illustrative examples of other types ofnucleotides are molecules containing adenine, guanine, thymine,cytosine, uracil, purine, xanthine, diaminopurine,8-oxo-N6-methyladenine, 7-deazaxanthine, 7-deazaguanine,N4,N4-ethanocytosin, N6,N6-ethano-2,6-diaminopurine, 5-methylcytosine,5-(C3-C6)-alkynylcytosine, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil,pseudoisocytosine, 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-triazolopyridin, isocytosine,isoguanin, inosine and the “non-naturally occurring” nucleotidesdescribed in Benner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,272. The term“nucleotide” is intended to cover every and all of these examples aswell as analogues and tautomers thereof. Especially interestingnucleotides are those containing adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine,and uracil, which are considered as the naturally occurring nucleotidesin relation to therapeutic and diagnostic application in humans.Nucleotides include the natural 2′-deoxy and 2′- hydroxyl sugars, e.g.,as described in Kornberg and Baker, DNA Replication, 2nd Ed, (Freeman,San Francisco, 1992) as well as their analogs.

“Analogs” in reference to nucleotides includes synthetic nucleotideshaving modified base moieties and/or modified sugar moieties (sec e.g.,described generally by Scheit, Nucleotide Analogs, John Wiley, New York,1980; Freier & Altmann, (1997) Nucl. Acid, Res., 25(22). 4429-4443,Toulmé, J. J. (2001) Nature Biotechnology 19:17-18; Manoharan M., (1999)Biochemica et Biophysica Acta 1489:117-139; Freier S. M., (1997) NucleicAcid Research, 25:4429-4443, Uhlman, E., (2000) Drug Discovery &Development, 3: 203-213, Herdewin P., (2000) Antisense & Nucleic AcidDrug Dev., 10:297-310); 2′-O, 3′-C-linked [3.2.0]bicycloarabinonucleosides. Such analogs include synthetic nucleotidesdesigned to enhance binding properties, e.g., duplex or triplexstability, specificity, or the like.

As used herein, “hybridization” means the pairing of substantiallycomplementary strands of oligomeric compounds. One mechanism of pairinginvolves hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoögsteen orreversed Hoögsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside ornucleotide bases (nucleotides) of the strands of oligomeric compounds.For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleotides whichpair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. Hybridization can occurunder varying circumstances.

An antisense compound is “specifically hybridizable” when binding of thecompound to the target nucleic acid interferes with the normal functionof the target nucleic acid to cause a modulation of function and/oractivity, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoidnon-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target nucleicacid sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired,i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays ortherapeutic treatment, and under conditions in which assays areperformed in the case of in vitro assays.

As used herein, the phrase “stringent hybridization conditions” or“stringent conditions” refers to conditions under which a compound ofthe invention will hybridize to its target sequence, but to a minimalnumber of other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependentand will be different in different circumstances and in the context ofthis invention, “stringent conditions” under which oligomeric compoundshybridize to a target sequence are determined by the nature andcomposition of the oligomeric compounds and the assays in which they arebeing investigated, in general, stringent hybridization conditionscomprise low concentrations (<0.15M) of salts with inorganic cationssuch as Na++ or K++ (i.e., low ionic strength), temperature higher than20° C.-25° C. below the Tm of the oligomeric compound:target sequencecomplex, and the presence of denaturants such as formamide,dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, or the detergent sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). For example, the hybridization rate decreases 1.1% foreach 1% formamide. An example of a high stringency hybridisationcondition is 0.1× sodium chloride-sodium citrate buffer (SSC)/0.1% (w/v)SDS at 60° C. for 30 minutes.

“Complementary,” as used herein, refers to the capacity for precisepairing between two nucleotides on one or two oligomeric strands. Forexample, if a nucleobase at a certain position of an antisense compoundis capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleobase at a certain positionof a target nucleic acid, said target nucleic acid being a DNA, RNA, oroligonucleotide molecule, then the position of hydrogen bonding betweenthe oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid is considered to be acomplementary position. The oligomeric compound and the further DNA,RNA, or oligonucleotide molecule are complementary to each other when asufficient number of complementary positions in each molecule areoccupied by nucleotides which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus,“specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are usedto indicate a sufficient degree of precise pairing or complementarityover a sufficient number of nucleotides such that stable and specificbinding occurs between the oligomeric compound and a target nucleicacid.

It is understood in the art that the sequence of an oligomeric compoundneed not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to bespecifically hybridizable. Moreover, an oligonucleotide may hybridizeover one or more segments such that intervening or adjacent segments arenot involved in the hybridization event (e.g., a loop structure,mismatch or hairpin structure). The oligomeric compounds of the presentinvention comprise at least about 70%, or at least about 75%, or atleast about 80%, or at least about 85%, or at least about 90%, or atleast about 95%, or at least about 99% sequence complementarity to atarget region within the target nucleic acid sequence to which they aretargeted. For example, an antisense compound in which 18 of 20nucleotides of the antisense compound are complementary to a targetregion, and would therefore specifically hybridize, would represent 90percent complementarity. In this example, the remainingnon-complementary nucleotides may be clustered or interspersed withcomplementary nucleotides and need not be contiguous to each other or tocomplementary nucleotides. As such, an antisense compound which is 18nucleotides in length having 4 (four) non-complementary nucleotideswhich are flanked by two regions of complete complementarity with thetarget nucleic acid would have 77.8% overall complementarity with thetarget nucleic acid and would thus fall within the scope of the presentinvention. Percent complementarity of an antisense compound with aregion of a target nucleic acid can be determined routinely using BLASTprograms (basic local alignment search tools) and PowerBLAST programsknown in the art. Percent homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, can be determined by, for example, the Gap program(Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, GeneticsComputer Group, University Research Park, Madison Wis.), using defaultsettings, which uses the algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Adv. ApplMath., (1981) 2, 482-489).

As used herein, the term “Thermal Melting Point (Tm)” refers to thetemperature, under defined ionic strength, pH, and nucleic acidconcentration, at which 50% of the oligonucleotides complementary to thetarget sequence hybridize to the target sequence at equilibrium.Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the saltconcentration is at least about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (orother salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30°C. for short oligonucleotides (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotide). Stringentconditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizingagents such as formamide.

As used herein, “modulation” means either an increase (stimulation) or adecrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene.

The term “variant”, when used in the context of a polynucleotidesequence, may encompass a polynucleotide sequence related to a wild typegene. This definition may also include, for example, “allelic,”“splice,” “species,” or “polymorphic” variants. A splice variant mayhave significant identity to a reference molecule, but will generallyhave a greater or lesser number of polynucleotides due to alternatesplicing of exons during mRNA processing. The corresponding polypeptidemay possess additional functional domains or an absence of domains.Specks variants are polynucleotide sequences that vary from one speciesto another. Of particular utility in the invention are variants of wildtype gene products. Variants may result from at least one mutation inthe nucleic acid sequence and may result in altered mRNAs or inpolypeptides whose structure or function may or may not be altered. Anygiven natural or recombinant gene may have none, one, or many allelicforms. Common mutational changes that give rise to variants aregenerally ascribed to natural deletions, additions, or substitutions ofnucleotides. Each of these types of changes may occur alone, or incombination with the others, one or more times in a given sequence.

The resulting polypeptides generally will have significant amino acididentity relative to each other. A polymorphic variant is a variation inthe polynucleotide sequence of a particular gene between individuals ofa given species. Polymorphic variants also may encompass “singlenucleotide polymorphisms” (SNPs) or single base mutations in which thepolynucleotide sequence varies by one base. The presence of SNPs may beindicative of, for example, a certain population with a propensity for adisease state, that is susceptibility versus resistance.

Derivative polynucleotides include nucleic acids subjected to chemicalmodification, for example, replacement of hydrogen by an alkyl, acyl, oramino group. Derivatives, e.g., derivative oligonucleotides, maycomprise non-naturally-occurring portions, such as altered sugarmoieties or inter-sugar linkages. Exemplary among these arephosphorothioate and other sulfur containing species which are known inthe art. Derivative nucleic acids may also contain labels, includingradionucleotides, enzymes, fluorescent agents, chemiluminescent agents,chromogenic agents, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, magneticparticles, and the like.

A “derivative” polypeptide or peptide is one that is modified, forexample, by glycosylation, pegylation, phosphorylation, sulfation,reduction/alkylation, acylation, chemical coupling, or mild formalintreatment. A derivative may also be modified to contain a detectablelabel, either directly or indirectly, including, but not limited to, aradioisotope, fluorescent, and enzyme label.

As used herein, the term “animal” or “patient” is meant to include, forexample, humans, sheep, elks, deer, mule deer, minks, mammals, monkeys,horses, cattle, pigs, goats, dogs, cats, rats, mice, birds, chicken,reptiles, fish, insects and arachnids.

“Mammal” covers warm blooded mammals that are typically under medicalcare (e.g., humans and domesticated animals). Examples include feline,canine, equine, bovine, and human, as well as just human.

“Treating” or “treatment” covers the treatment of a disease-state in amammal, and includes: (a) preventing the disease-state from occurring ina mammal, in particular, when such mammal is predisposed to thedisease-state but has not yet been diagnosed as having it; (b)inhibiting the disease-state, e.g., arresting it development; and/or (c)relieving the disease-state, e.g., causing regression of the diseasestate until a desired endpoint is reached. Treating also includes theamelioration of a symptom of a disease (e.g., lessen the pain ordiscomfort), wherein such amelioration may or may not be directlyaffecting the disease (e.g., cause, transmission, expression, etc.).

As used herein, “cancer” refers to all types of cancer or neoplasm ormalignant tumors found in mammals, including, but not limited to:leukemias, lymphomas, melanomas, carcinomas and sarcomas. The cancermanifests itself as a “tumor” or tissue comprising malignant cells ofthe cancer. Examples of tumors include sarcomas and carcinomas such as,but not limited to: fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma,chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma,endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma,synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma,rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer,ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cellcarcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaccous glandcarcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas,cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renalcell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma,seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilms' tumor, cervical cancer, testiculartumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma,epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma,craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pincaloma, hemangioblastoma, acousticneuroma, oligodendroglioma, meningioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, andretinoblastoma. Additional cancers which can be treated by the disclosedcomposition according to the invention include but not limited to, forexample, Hodgkin's Disease, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, multiple mycloma,neuroblastoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer,rhabdomyosarcoma, primary thrombocytosis, primary macroglobulinemia,small-cell lung tumors, primary brain tumors, stomach cancer, coloncancer, malignant pancreatic insulanoma, malignant carcinoid, urinarybladder cancer, gastric cancer, premalignant skin lesions, testicularcancer, lymphomas, thyroid cancer, neuroblastoma, esophageal cancer,genitourinary tract cancer, malignant hypercalcemia, cervical cancer,endometrial cancer, adrenal cortical cancer, and prostate cancer.

As used herein, the term “vascular disease or disorder” refers to adisease of the circulatory system. Vascular diseases include arterialdiseases, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral arterydisease (PAD), abdominal aortic aneurysm; and venous diseases, such asblood clots, deep vein thrombosis, venous stasis disease, phlebitis,varicose veins. Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of most vasculardiseases, and thus a subject having atherosclerosis is a candidate fortreatment with the compositions and methods described herein.

A cardiovascular disease or disorder includes those disorders that caneither cause ischemia or are caused by reperfusion of the heart.Examples include, but are not limited to, atherosclerosis, coronaryartery disease, granulomatous myocarditis, chronic myocarditis(non-granulomatous), primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, peripheralartery disease (PAD), stroke, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction,cardiovascular tissue damage caused by cardiac arrest, cardiovasculartissue damage caused by cardiac bypass, cardiogenic shock, and relatedconditions that would be known by those of ordinary skill in the art orwhich involve dysfunction of or tissue damage to the heart orvasculature, especially, but not limited to, tissue damage related toADAM activation. CVS diseases include, but are not limited to,atherosclerosis, granulomatous myocarditis, myocardial infarction,myocardial fibrosis secondary to valvular heart disease, myocardialfibrosis without infarction, primary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, andchronic myocarditis (non-granulomatous). As used herein,“cardiomyopathy” refers to any disease or dysfunction of the myocardium(heart muscle) in which the heart is abnormally enlarged, thickenedand/or stiffened. As a result, the heart muscle's ability to pump bloodis usually weakened. The disease or disorder can be, for example,inflammatory, metabolic, toxic, infiltrative, fibroplastic,hematological, genetic, or unknown in origin. Such cardiomyopathies mayresult from a lack of oxygen. Other diseases include those that resultfrom myocardial injury which involves damage to the muscle or themyocardium in the wall of the heart as a result of disease or trauma.Myocardial injury can be attributed to many things such as, but notlimited to, cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, or congenital heartdisease. Specific cardiac disorders to be treated also includecongestive heart failure, ventricular or atrial septal defect,congenital heart defect or ventricular aneurysm. The cardiac disordermay be pediatric in origin. Cardiomyopathy includes but is not limitedto, cardiomyopathy (dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenicand unclassified cardiomyopathy), acute and chronic heart failure, rightheart failure, left heart failure, biventricular heart failure,congenital heart defects, mitral valve stenosis, mitral valveinsufficiency, aortic valve stenosis, aortic valve insufficiency,tricuspidal valve stenosis, tricuspidal valve insufficiency, pulmonalvalve stenosis, pulmonal valve insufficiency, combined valve defects,myocarditis, acute myocarditis, chronic myocarditis, viral myocarditis,diastolic heart failure, systolic heart failure, diabetic heart failureand accumulation diseases.

A “Metabolic disease or disorder” refers to a wide range of diseases anddisorders of the endocrine system including, for example, insulinresistance, diabetes, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, high bloodcholesterol, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia andhyperlipidemia.

Polynucleotide and Oligonucleotide Compositions and Molecules

Targets: In one embodiment, the targets comprise nucleic acid sequencesof Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), including without limitationsense and/or antisense noncoding and/or coding sequences associated withFGF21.

FGF21 is a secreted polypeptide that belongs to a subfamily offibroblast growth factors (FGFs) that includes FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23.FGF21 is an atypical FGF in that it is heparin independent and functionsas a hormone in the regulation of glucose, lipid, and energy metabolism.FGF21 was isolated from a liver cDNA library as a hepatic secretedfactor. It is highly expressed in liver and pancreas and is the onlymember of the FGF family so be primarily expressed in liver. Transgenicmice overexpressing FGF21 exhibit metabolic phenotypes of slow growthrate, low plasma glucose and triglyceride levels, and an absence ofage-associated type 2 diabetes, islet hyperplasia, and obesity.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) wasidentified based on cDNA sequence homology to other FGFs. Phylogeneticand structural analyses have assigned FGF21 to the FGF 19 subfamily,which consists of FGF15 (the mouse ortholog of human FGF19), FGF19,FGF21, and FGF23. The FGF19 subfamily members distinguish themselvesfrom the other 15 FGFs in that they function in an endocrine fashion.FGF23 is secreted primarily from bone and acts on the kidney to inhibitphosphate reabsorption and vitamin D biosynthesis. FGF15 is expressed byintestinal epithelium and is involved in the negative feedbackregulation of bile acid synthesis in the liver. FGF21 is expressedpredominantly in the liver and has emerged as a metabolic regulator ofglucose uptake in adipocytes during a search for novel agents withtherapeutic, potential to treat diabetes mellitus. Administration ofrecombinant FGF21 lowered blood glucose levels in both obese mice and indiabetic mice. Furthermore, transgenic mice that overexpress FGF21 werehypoglycemic, sensitive to insulin, and resistant to diet-inducedobesity.

In an embodiment, antisense oligonucleotides are used to prevent ortreat diseases or disorders associated with FGF21 family members.Exemplary Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) mediated diseases anddisorders which can be treated with cell/tissues regenerated from stemcells obtained using the antisense compounds comprise: a disease ordisorder associated with abnormal function and/or expression of FGF21, ametabolic disease or disorder (e.g., diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia,hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, hepatosteaotosis such asnon-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) etc.), cancer, a disease ordisorder associated with impaired lipid metabolism a disease or disorderassociated with impaired renal function, a disease or disorderassociated with impaired hepatic function, abnormal cell proliferation,a vascular disease or disorder (e.g., coronary artery disease,peripheral artery disease, atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, ablood clot, deep vein thrombosis, venous stasis disease, phlebitis,varicose veins etc.), angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, a cardiovasculardisease or disorder, a disease or disorder associated with impairedblood vessel formation, a disease or disorder associated with impairedcell signaling, a disease or disorder associated with impaired kinaseactivity, a disease or disorder associated with impaired uptake ofglucose into adipocytes, a disease or disorder associated with impairedinteractions between FGF21 and one or both of FGFR-1 or FGFR-2, adisease or disorder associated with impaired phosphorylation of FGFR-1or FGFR-2 protein, and apoptosis.

In an embodiment, modulation of FGF21 by one or more antisenseoligonucleotides is administered to a patient in need thereof, toprevent or treat any disease or disorder related to FGF21 abnormalexpression, function, activity as compared to a normal control.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotides are specific for polynucleotidesof FGF21, which includes, without limitation noncoding regions. TheFGF21 targets comprise variants of FGF21; mutants of FGF21, includingSNPs; noncoding sequences of FGF21: alleles, fragments and the like.Preferably the oligonucleotide is an antisense RNA molecule.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the target nucleic acidmolecule is not limited to FGF21 polynucleotides alone but extends toany of the isoforms, receptors, homologs, non-coding regions and thelike of FGF21.

In an embodiment, an oligonucleotide targets a natural antisensesequence (natural antisense to the coding and non-coding regions) ofFGF21 targets, including, without limitation, variants, alleles,homologs, mutants, derivatives, fragments and complementary sequencesthereto. Preferably the oligonucleotide is an antisense RNA or DNAmolecule.

In an embodiment, the oligomeric compounds of the present invention alsoinclude variants in which a different base is present at one or more ofthe nucleotide positions in the compound. For example, if the firstnucleotide is an adenine, variants may be produced which containthymidine, guanosine, cytidine or other natural or unnatural nucleotidesat this position. This may be done at any of the positions of theantisense compound. These compounds are then tested using the methodsdescribed herein to determine their ability to inhibit expression of atarget nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity,between the antisense compound and target is from about 50% to about60%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, is from about 60% to about 70%. In some embodiments,homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is from about 70% toabout 80%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, is from about 80% to about 90%. In some embodiments,homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is about 90%, about 92%,about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99% orabout 100%.

An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of thecompound to the target nucleic acid interferes with the normal functionof the target nucleic acid to cause a loss of activity, and there is asufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding ofthe antisense compound to non-target nucleic acid sequences underconditions in which specific binding is desired. Such conditionsinclude, i.e., physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays ortherapeutic treatment, and conditions in which assays are performed inthe case of in vitro assays.

An antisense compound, whether DNA, RNA, chimeric, substituted etc, isspecifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNAor RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA orRNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree ofcomplementarily to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compoundto non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding isdesired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivoassays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vitro assays,under conditions in which the assays are performed.

In an embodiment, targeting of FGF21 including without limitation,antisense sequences which are identified and expanded, using forexample, PCR, hybridization etc., one or more of the sequences set forthas SEQ ID NOS: 2, and the like, modulate the expression or function ofFGF21. In one embodiment, expression or function is up-regulated ascompared to a control. In an embodiment, expression or function isdown-regulated as compared to a control.

In an embodiment, oligonucleotides comprise nucleic acid sequences setforth as SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9 including antisense sequences which areidentified and expanded, using for example, PCR, hybridization etc.These oligonucleotides can comprise one or more modified nucleotides,shorter or longer fragments, modified bonds and the like. Examples ofmodified bonds or internucleotide linkages comprise phosphorothioate,phosphorodithioate or the like. In an embodiment, the nucleotidescomprise a phosphorus derivative. The phosphorus derivative (or modifiedphosphate group) which may be attached to the sugar or sugar analogmoiety in the modified oligonucleotides of the present invention may bea monophosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate, alkylphosphate,alkanephosphate, phosphorothioate and the like. The preparation of theabove-noted phosphate analogs, and their incorporation into nucleotides,modified nucleotides and oligonucleotides, per se, is also known andneed not be described here.

The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also harnessed by thoseof skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense oligonucleotideshave been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of diseasestates in animals and man. Antisense oligonucleotides have been safelyand effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials arepresently underway. It is thus established that oligonucleotides can beuseful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful intreatment regimes for treatment of cells, tissues and animals,especially humans.

In embodiments of the present invention oligomeric antisense compounds,particularly oligonucleotides, bind to target nucleic acid molecules andmodulate the expression and/or function of molecules encoded by a targetgene. The functions of DNA to be interfered comprise, for example,replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to be interferedcomprise all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of theRNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from theRNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, andcatalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA.The functions may be up-regulated or inhibited depending on thefunctions desired.

The antisense compounds, include, antisense oligomeric compounds,antisense oligonucleotides, external guide sequence (EGS)oligonucleotides, alternate splicers, primers, probes, and otheroligomeric compounds that hybridize to at least a portion of the targetnucleic acid. As such, these compounds may be introduced in the form ofsingle-stranded, double-stranded, partially single-stranded, or circularoligomeric compounds.

Targeting an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid molecule,in the context of this invention, can be a multistep process. Theprocess usually begins with the identification of a target nucleic acidwhose function is to be modulated. This target nucleic acid may be, forexample, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whoseexpression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, ora nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the presentinvention, the target nucleic acid encodes Fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21).

The targeting process usually also includes determination of at leastone target region, segment, or site within the target nucleic acid forthe antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g.,modulation of expression, will result. Within the context of the presentinvention, the term “region” is defined as a portion of the targetnucleic acid having at least one identifiable structure, function, orcharacteristic. Within regions of target nucleic acids are segments.“Segments” are defined as smaller or sub-portions of regions within atarget nucleic acid, “Sites,” as used in the present invention, aredefined as positions within a target nucleic acid.

In an embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind to the naturalantisense sequences of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and modulatethe expression and/or function of FGF21 (SEQ ID NO: 1). Examples ofantisense sequences include SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9.

In an embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind to one or moresegments of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) polynucleotides andmodulate the expression and/or function of FGF21. The segments compriseat least five consecutive nucleotides of the FGF21 sense or antisensepolynucleotides.

In an embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides are specific fornatural antisense sequences of FGF21 wherein binding of theoligonucleotides to the natural antisense sequences of FGF21 modulateexpression and/or function of FGF21.

In an embodiment, oligonucleotide compounds comprise sequences set forthas SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9, antisense sequences which are identified andexpanded, using for example, PCR, hybridization etc. Theseoligonucleotides can comprise one or more modified nucleotides, shorteror longer fragments, modified bonds and the like. Examples of modifiedbonds or internucleotide linkages comprise phosphorothioate,phosphorodithioate or the like. In an embodiment, the nucleotidescomprise a phosphorus derivative. The phosphorus derivative (or modifiedphosphate group) which may be attached to the sugar or sugar analogmoiety in the modified oligonucleotides of the present invention may bea monophosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate, alkylphosphate,alkanephosphate, phosphorothioate and the like. The preparation of theabove-noted phosphate analogs, and their incorporation into nucleotides,modified nucleotides and oligonucleotides, per se, is also known andneed not be described here.

Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon istypically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in thecorresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is alsoreferred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG startcodon”. A minority of genes has a translation initiation codon havingthe RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG; and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′CUGhave been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the term “translationinitiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences,even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typicallymethionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes).Eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative startcodons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translationinitiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particularset of conditions. In the context of the invention, “start codon” and“translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that areused in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA transcribed from a geneencoding Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), regardless of thesequence(s) of such codons. A translation termination codon (or “stopcodon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences, i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAGand 5′-UGA (the corresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′- TAG and5′-TGA, respectively).

The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region”refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stopcodon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to aportion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from atranslation termination codon. Consequently, the “start codon region”(or “translation initiation codon region”) and the “stop codon region”(or “translation termination codon region”) are all regions that may betargeted effectively with the antisense compounds of the presentinvention.

The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which is known in theart to refer to the region between the translation initiation codon andthe translation termination codon, is also a region which may betargeted effectively. Within the context of the present invention, atargeted region is the intragenic region encompassing the translationinitiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of agene.

Another target region includes the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), knownin the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction fromthe translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides betweenthe 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA (orcorresponding nucleotides on the gene). Still another target regionincludes the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), known in the art to referto the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translationtermination codon, and thus including nucleotides between thetranslation termination codon and 3″ end of an mRNA (or correspondingnucleotides on the gene). The 5′ cap site of an mRNA comprises anN7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of themRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA isconsidered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap site. Another target region for thisinvention is the 5′ cap region.

Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, manycontain one or more regions, known as “introns,” which are excised froma transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and thereforetranslated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together toform a continuous mRNA sequence. In one embodiment, targeting splicesites, i.e., intron-exon junctions or exon-intron junctions, isparticularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicatedin disease, or where an overproduction of a particular splice product isimplicated in disease. An aberrant fusion junction due to rearrangementor deletion is another embodiment of a target site. mRNA transcriptsproduced via the process of splicing of two (or more) mRNAs fromdifferent gene sources are known as “fusion transcripts”, introns can beeffectively targeted using antisense compounds targeted to, for example,DNA or pre-mRNA.

In an embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind to coding and/ornon-coding regions of a target polynucleotide and modulate theexpression and/or function of the target molecule.

In an embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind to naturalantisense polynucleotides and modulate the expression and/or function ofthe target molecule.

In an embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind to sensepolynucleotides and modulate the expression and/or function of thetarget molecule.

Alternative RNA transcripts can be produced from the same genomic regionof DNA. These alternative transcripts are generally known as “variants”.More specifically, “pre-mRNA variants” are transcripts produced from thesame genomic DNA that differ from other transcripts, produced from thesame genomic DNA in either their start or stop position and contain bothintronic and exonic sequence.

Upon excision of one or more exon or intron regions, or portions thereofduring splicing, pre-mRNA variants produce smaller “mRNA variants”.Consequently, mRNA variants are processed pre-mRNA variants and eachunique pre-mRNA variant must always produce a unique mRNA variant as aresult of splicing. These mRNA variants are also known as “alternativesplice variants”, if no splicing of the pre-mRNA variant occurs then thepre-mRNA variant is identical to the mRNA variant.

Variants can be produced through the use of alternative signals to startor stop transcription. Pre-mRNAs and mRNAs can possess more than onestart codon or stop codon. Variants that originate from a pre-mRNA ormRNA that use alternative start codons are known as “alternative startvariants” of that pre-mRNA or mRNA. Those transcripts that use analternative stop codon are known as “alternative stop variants” of thatpre-mRNA or mRNA. One specific type of alternative stop variant is the“polyA variant” in which the multiple transcripts produced result fromthe alternative selection of one of the “polyA stop signals” by thetranscription machinery, thereby producing transcripts that terminate atunique polyA sites. Within the context of the invention, the types ofvariants described herein are also embodiments of target nucleic acids.

The locations on the target nucleic acid to which the antisensecompounds hybridize are defined as at least a 5-nucleotide long portionof a target region to which an active antisense compound is targeted.

While the specific sequences of certain exemplary target segments areset forth herein, one of skill in the art will recognize that theseserve to illustrate and describe particular embodiments within the scopeof the present invention. Additional target segments are readilyidentifiable by one having ordinary skill in the art in view of thisdisclosure.

Target segments 5-100 nucleotides in length comprising a stretch of atleast five (5) consecutive nucleotides selected from within theillustrative preferred target segments are considered to be suitable fortargeting as well.

Target segments can include DNA or RNA sequences that comprise at leastthe 5 consecutive nucleotides from the 5′-terminus of one of theillustrative preferred target segments (the remaining nucleotides beinga consecutive stretch of the same DNA or RNA beginning immediatelyupstream of the 5′-terminus of the target segment and continuing untilthe DNA or RNA contains about 5 to about 100 nucleotides). Similarlypreferred target segments are represented by DNA or RNA sequences thatcomprise at least the 5 consecutive nucleotides from the 3′-terminus ofone of the illustrative preferred target segments (the remainingnucleotides being a consecutive stretch of the same DNA or RNA beginningimmediately downstream of the 3′-terminus of the target segment andcontinuing until the DNA or RNA contains about 5 to about 100nucleotides). One having skill in the art armed with the target segmentsillustrated herein will be able, without undue experimentation, toidentify further preferred target segments.

Once one or more target regions, segments or sites have been identified,antisense compounds are chosen which are sufficiently complementary tothe target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficientspecificity, to give the desired effect.

In embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotides bind to anantisense strand of a particular target. The oligonucleotides are atleast 5 nucleotides in length and can be synthesized so eacholigonucleotide targets overlapping sequences such that oligonucleotidesare synthesized to cover the entire length of the target polynucleotide.The targets also include coding as well as non coding regions.

In one embodiment, it is preferred to target specific nucleic acids byantisense oligonucleotides. Targeting an antisense compound to aparticular nucleic acid is a multistep process. The process usuallybegins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose functionis to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNAtranscribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with aparticular disorder or disease state, or a non coding polynucleotidesuch as for example, non coding RNA (ncRNA).

RNAs can be classified into (1) messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which aretranslated into proteins, and (2) non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).ncRNAs comprise microRNAs, antisense transcripts and otherTranscriptional Units (TU) containing a high density of stop codons andlacking any extensive “Open Reading Frame”. Many ncRNAs appear to startfrom initiation sites in 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) ofprotein-coding loci. ncRNAs are often rare and at least half of thencRNAs that have been sequenced by the FANTOM consortium seem not to bepolyadenylated. Most researchers have for obvious reasons focused onpolyadenylated mRNAs that are processed and exported to the cytoplasm.Recently, it was shown that the set of non-polyadenylated nuclear RNAsmay be very large, and that many such transcripts arise from so-calledintergenic regions. The mechanism by which ncRNAs may regulate geneexpression is by base pairing with target transcripts. The RNAs thatfunction by base pairing can be grouped into (1) cis encoded RNAs thatare encoded at the same genetic location, but on the opposite strand tothe RNAs they act upon and therefore display perfect complementarity totheir target, and (2) trans-encoded RNAs that are encoded at achromosomal location distinct from the RNAs they act upon and generallydo not exhibit perfect base-pairing potential with their targets.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, perturbation of an antisensepolynucleotide by the antisense oligonucleotides described herein canalter the expression of the corresponding sense messenger RNAs. However,this regulation can either be discordant (antisense knockdown results inmessenger RNA elevation) or concordant (antisense knockdown results inconcomitant messenger RNA reduction). In these cases, antisenseoligonucleotides can be targeted to overlapping or non-overlaying partsof the antisense transcript resulting in its knockdown or sequestration.Coding as well as non-coding antisense can be targeted in an identicalmanner and that either category is capable of regulating thecorresponding sense transcripts—either in a concordant or disconcordantmanner. The strategies that are employed in identifying newoligonucleotides for use against a target can be based on the knockdownof antisense RNA transcripts by antisense oligonucleotides or any othermeans of modulating the desired target.

Strategy 1: In the case of discordant regulation, knocking down theantisense transcript elevates the expression of the conventional (sense)gene. Should that latter gene encode for a known or putative drugtarget, then knockdown of its antisense counterpart could conceivablymimic the action of a receptor agonist or an enzyme stimulant.

Strategy 2: In the case of concordant regulation, one couldconcomitantly knock down both antisense and sense transcripts andthereby achieve synergistic reduction of the conventional (sense) geneexpression, if, for example, an antisense oligonucleotide is used toachieve knockdown, then this strategy can be used to apply one antisenseoligonucleotide targeted to the sense transcript and another antisenseoligonucleotide to the corresponding antisense transcript, or a singleenergetically symmetric antisense oligonucleotide that simultaneouslytargets overlapping sense and antisense transcripts.

According to the present invention, antisense compounds includeantisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS)oligonucleotides, siRNA compounds, single- or double-stranded RNAinterference (RNAi) compounds such as siRNA compounds, and otheroligomeric compounds which hybridize to at least a portion of the targetnucleic acid and modulate its function. As such, they may be DNA, RNA,DNA-like, RNA-like, or mixtures thereof, or may be mimetics of one ormore of these. These compounds may be single-stranded, doublestranded,circular or hairpin oligomeric compounds and may contain structuralelements such as internal or terminal bulges, mismatches or loops.Antisense compounds are routinely prepared linearly but can be joined orotherwise prepared to be circular and/or branched. Antisense compoundscan include constructs such as, for example, two strands hybridized toform a wholly or partially double-stranded compound or a single strandwith sufficient self-complementarity to allow for hybridization andformation of a fully or partially double-stranded compound. The twostrands can be linked internally leaving free 3′ or 5′ termini or can belinked to form a continuous hairpin structure or loop. The hairpinstructure may contain an overhang on either the 5′ or 3′ terminusproducing an extension of single stranded character. The double strandedcompounds optionally can include overhangs on the ends. Furthermodifications can include conjugate groups attached to one of thetermini, selected nucleotide positions, sugar positions or to one of theinternucleoside linkages. Alternatively, the two strands can be linkedvia a non-nucleic acid moiety or linker group. When formed from only onestrand, dsRNA can take the form of a self-complementary hairpin-typemolecule that doubles back on itself to form a duplex. Thus, the dsRNAscan be fully or partially double stranded. Specific modulation of geneexpression can be achieved by stable expression of dsRNA hairpins intransgenic cell lines, however, in some embodiments, the gene expressionor function is up regulated. When formed from two strands, or a singlestrand that takes the form of a self-complementary hairpin-type moleculedoubled back on itself to form a duplex, the two strands (orduplex-forming regions of a single strand) are complementary RNA strandsthat base pair in Watson-Crick fashion.

Once introduced to a system, the compounds of the invention may elicitthe action of one or more enzymes or structural proteins to effectcleavage or other modification of the target nucleic acid or may workvia occupancy-based mechanisms, in general, nucleic acids (includingoligonucleotides) may be described as “DNA-like” (i.e., generally havingone or more 2′-deoxy sugars and, generally, T rather than U bases) or“RNA-like” (i.e., generally having one or more 2′-hydroxyl or2′-modified sugars and, generally U rather than T bases). Nucleic acidhelices can adopt more than one type of structure, most commonly the A-and B-forms. It is believed that, in general, oligonucleotides whichhave B-form-like structure are “DNA-like” and those which haveA-formlike structure are “RNA-like.” In some (chimeric) embodiments, anantisense compound may contain both A- and B-form regions.

In an embodiment, the desired oligonucleotides or antisense compounds,comprise at least one of: antisense RNA, antisense DNA, chimericantisense oligonucleotides, antisense oligonucleotides comprisingmodified linkages, interference RNA (RNAi), short interfering RNA(siRNA); a micro, interfering RNA (miRNA); a small, temporal RNA(stRNA); or a short, hairpin RNA (shRNA); small RNA-induced geneactivation (RNAa): small activating RNAs (saRNAs), or combinationsthereof.

dsRNA can also activate gene expression, a mechanism that has beentermed “small RNA-induced gene activation” or RNAa. dsRNAs targetinggene promoters induce potent transcriptional activation of associatedgenes. RNAa was demonstrated in human cells using synthetic dsRNAs,termed “small activating RNAs” (saRNAs). It is currently not knownwhether RNAa is conserved in other organisms.

Small double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), such as small interfering RNA (siRNA)and microRNA (miRNA), have been found to be the trigger of anevolutionary conserved mechanism known as RNA interference (RNAi), RNAiinvariably leads to gene silencing via remodeling chromatin to therebysuppress transcription, degrading complementary mRNA, or blockingprotein translation. However, in instances described in detail in theexamples section which follows, oligonucleotides are shown to increasethe expression and/or function of the Fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21) polynucleotides and encoded products thereof. dsRNAs may alsoact as small activating RNAs (saRNA). Without wishing to be bound bytheory, by targeting sequences in gene promoters, saRNAs would inducetarget gene expression in a phenomenon referred to as dsRNA-inducedtranscriptional activation (RNAa).

In a further embodiment, the “preferred target segments” identifiedherein may be employed in a screen for additional compounds thatmodulate the expression of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)polynucleotides. “Modulators” are those compounds that decrease orincrease the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding FGF21 andwhich comprise at least a 5-nucleotide portion that is complementary toa preferred target segment. The screening method comprises the steps ofcontacting a preferred target segment of a nucleic acid moleculeencoding sense or natural antisense polynucleotides of FGF21 with one ormore candidate modulators, and selecting for one or more candidatemodulators which decrease or increase the expression of a nucleic acidmolecule encoding FGF21 polynucleotides, e.g. SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9. Onceit is shown that the candidate modulator or modulators are capable ofmodulating (e.g. either decreasing or increasing) the expression of anucleic acid molecule encoding FGF21 polynucleotides, the modulator maythen be employed in further investigative studies of the function ofFGF21 polynucleotides, or for use as a research, diagnostic, ortherapeutic agent in accordance with the present invention.

Targeting the natural antisense sequence preferably modulates thefunction of the target gene. For example, the FGF21 gene (e.g. accessionnumber NM_(—)019113). In an embodiment, the target is an antisensepolynucleotide of the FGF21 gene. In an embodiment, an antisenseoligonucleotide targets sense and/or natural antisense sequences ofFGF21 polynucleotides (e.g. accession number NM_(—)019113), variants,alleles, isoforms, homologs, mutants, derivatives, fragments andcomplementary sequences thereto. Preferably the oligonucleotide is anantisense molecule and the targets include coding and noncoding regionsof antisense and/or sense FGF21 polynucleotides.

The preferred target segments of the present invention may be also becombined with their respective complementary antisense compounds of thepresent invention to form stabilized double-stranded (duplexed)oligonucleotides.

Such double stranded oligonucleotide moieties have been shown in the artto modulate target expression and regulate translation as well as RNAprocessing via an antisense mechanism. Moreover, the double-strandedmoieties may be subject to chemical modifications. For example, suchdouble-stranded moieties have been shown to inhibit the target by theclassical hybridization of antisense strand of the duplex to the target,thereby triggering enzymatic degradation of the target.

In an embodiment, an antisense oligonucleotide targets Fibroblast growthfactor 21 (FGF21) polynucleotides (e.g. accession number NM_(—)019113),variants, alleles, isoforms, homologs, mutants, derivatives, fragmentsand complementary sequences thereto. Preferably the oligonucleotide isan antisense molecule.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the target nucleic acidmolecule is not limited to FGF21 alone but extends to any of theisoforms, receptors, homology and the like of FGF21 molecules.

In an embodiment, an oligonucleotide targets a natural antisensesequence of FGF21 polynucleotides, for example, polynucleotides setforth as SEQ ID NOS: 2, and any variants, alleles, homologs, mutants,derivatives, fragments and complementary sequences thereto. Examples ofantisense oligonucleotides are set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9.

In one embodiment, the oligonucleotides are complementary to or bind tonucleic acid sequences of FGF21 antisense, including without limitationnoncoding sense and/or antisense sequences associated with FGF21polynucleotides and modulate expression and/or function of FGF21molecules.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotides are complementary to or bind tonucleic add sequences of FGF21 natural antisense, set forth as SEQ IDNOS: 2 and modulate expression and/or function of FGF21 molecules.

In an embodiment, oligonucleotides comprise sequences of at least 5consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9 and modulate expressionand/or function of FGF21 molecules.

The polynucleotide targets comprise FGF21, including family membersthereof, variants of FGF21; mutants of FGF21, including SNPs; noncodingsequences of FGF21; alleles of FGF21; species variants, fragments andthe like. Preferably the oligonucleotide is an antisense molecule.

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotide targeting FGF21 polynucleotides,comprise: antisense RNA, interference RNA (RNAi), short interfering RNA(siRNA); micro interfering RNA (miRNA); a small, temporal RNA (stRNA);or a short, hairpin RNA (shRNA); small RNA-induced gene activation(RNAa); or, small activating RNA (saRNA).

In an embodiment, targeting of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)polynucleotides, e.g. SEQ ID NOS: 2 modulate the expression or functionof these targets. In one embodiment, expression or function isup-regulated as compared to a control. In an embodiment, expression orfunction is down-regulated as compared to a control.

In an embodiment, antisense compounds comprise sequences set forth asSEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9. These oligonucleotides can comprise one or moremodified nucleotides, shorter or longer fragments, modified bonds andthe like.

In an embodiment, SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9 comprise one or more LNAnucleotides. Table 1 shows exemplary antisense oligonucleotides usefulin the methods of the invention.

TABLE 1 Sequence ID Antisense Sequence Name Sequence SEQ ID NO: 3CUR-1469 C*C*C*T*T*C*T*C*T*C*C*A*A*C*T*C*T*C*C*C SEQ ID NO: 4 CUR-1470C*A*G*A*T*C*C*A*C*A*G*T*C*C*G*C*T*T*T SEQ ID NO: 5 CUR-1471G*A*G*C*G*C*C*C*A*G*T*T*G*C*A*A*T*G*C*T SEQ ID NO: 6 CUR-1472T*C*T*T*C*C*G*G*T*G*C*C*A*G*G*G*C*T*T*A SEQ ID NO: 7 CUR-1473C*C*T*G*T*G*C*C*T*G*T*A*G*T*C*C*C*A*T*C*T SEQ ID NO: 8 CUR-1474A*G*G*C*T*A*C*C*T*G*G*C*T*T*C*T*G*A*G*C SEQ ID NO: 9 CUR-1475T*A*C*C*T*C*C*T*G*C*T*C*T*C*T*C*A*C*C*C

The modulation of a desired target nucleic acid can be carried out inseveral ways known in the art. For example, antisense oligonucleotides,siRNA etc. Enzymatic nucleic acid molecules (e.g., ribozymes) arenucleic acid molecules capable of catalyzing one or more of a variety ofreactions, including the ability to repeatedly cleave other separatenucleic acid molecules in a nucleotide base sequence-specific manner.Such enzymatic nucleic acid molecules can be used, for example, totarget virtually any RNA transcript.

Because of their sequence-specificity, trans-cleaving enzymatic nucleicacid molecules show promise as therapeutic agents for human disease.Enzymatic nucleic acid molecules can be designed to cleave specific RNAtargets within the background of cellular RNA. Such a cleavage eventrenders the mRNA non-functional and abrogates protein expression fromthat RNA. In this manner, synthesis of a protein associated with adisease state can be selectively inhibited.

In general, enzymatic nucleic acids with RNA cleaving activity act byfirst binding to a target RNA. Such binding occurs through the targetbinding portion of an enzymatic nucleic acid which is held in closeproximity to an enzymatic portion of the molecule that acts to cleavethe target RNA. Thus, the enzymatic nucleic acid first recognizes andthen binds a target RNA through complementary base pairing, and oncebound to the correct site, acts enzymatically to cut the target RNA.Strategic cleavage of such a target RNA will destroy its ability todirect synthesis of an encoded protein. After an enzymatic nucleic acidhas bound and cleaved its RNA target, it is released from that RNA tosearch for another target and can repeatedly bind and cleave newtargets.

Several approaches such as in vitro selection (evolution) strategies(Orgel, (1979) Proc. R. Soc. London, B 205, 435) have been used toevolve new nucleic acid catalysts capable of catalyzing a variety ofreactions, such as cleavage and ligation of phosphodiester linkages andamide linkages.

The development of ribozymes that are optimal for catalytic activitywould contribute significantly to any strategy that employs RNA-cleavingribozymes for the purpose of regulating gene expression. The hammerheadribozyme, for example, functions with a catalytic rate (kcat) of about 1min−1 in the presence of saturating (10 mM) concentrations of Mg2+cofactor. An artificial “RNA ligase” ribozyme has been shown to catalyzethe corresponding self-modification reaction with a rate of about 100min−1. In addition, it is known that certain modified hammerheadribozymes that have substrate binding arms made of DNA catalyze RNAcleavage with multiple turn-over rates that approach 100 min−1. Finally,replacement of a specific residue within the catalytic core of thehammerhead with certain nucleotide analogues gives modified ribozymesthat show as much as a 10-fold improvement in catalytic rate. Thesefindings demonstrate that ribozymes can promote chemical transformationswith catalytic rates that are significantly greater than those displayedin vitro by most natural self-cleaving ribozymes. It is then possiblethat the structures of certain selfcleaving ribozymes may be optimizedto give maximal catalytic activity, or that entirely new RNA motifs canbe made that display significantly faster rates for RNA phosphodiestercleavage.

Intermolecular cleavage of an RNA substrate by an RNA catalyst that fitsthe “hammerhead” model was first shown in 1987 (Uhlenbeck, O. C. (1987)Nature, 328: 596-600). The RNA catalyst was recovered and reacted withmultiple RNA molecules, demonstrating that it was truly catalytic.

Catalytic RNAs designed based on the “hammerhead” motif have been usedto cleave specific target sequences by making appropriate base changesin the catalytic RNA to maintain necessary base pairing with the targetsequences. This has allowed use of the catalytic RNA to cleave specifictarget sequences and indicates that catalytic RNAs designed according tothe “hammerhead” model may possibly cleave specific substrate RNAs invivo.

RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful tool for modulating geneexpression in mammals and mammalian cells. This approach requires thedelivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) either as RNA itself or asDNA, using an expression plasmid or virus and the coding sequence forsmall hairpin RNAs that are processed to siRNAs. This system enablesefficient transport of the pre-siRNAs to the cytoplasm where they areactive and permit the use of regulated and tissue specific promoters forgene expression.

In an embodiment, an oligonucleotide or antisense compound comprises anoligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and/or deoxyribonucleicacid (DNA), or a mimetic, chimera, analog or homolog thereof. This termincludes oligonucleotides composed of naturally occurring nucleotides,sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well asoligonucleotides having non-naturally occurring portions which functionsimilarly. Such modified or substituted oligonucleotides are oftendesired over native forms because of desirable properties such as, forexample, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for a targetnucleic acid and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

According to the present invention, the oligonucleotides or “antisensecompounds” include antisense oligonucleotides (e.g. RNA, DNA, mimetic,chimera, analog or homolog thereof), ribozymes, external guide sequence(EGS) oligonucleotides, siRNA compounds, single- or double-stranded RNAinterference (RNAi) compounds such as siRNA compounds, saRNA, aRNA, andother oligomeric compounds which hybridize to at least a portion of thetarget nucleic acid and modulate its function. As such, they may be DNA,RNA, DNA-like, RNA-like, or mixtures thereof, or may be mimetics of oneor more of these. These compounds may be single-stranded,double-stranded, circular or hairpin oligomeric compounds and maycontain structural elements such as internal or terminal bulges,mismatches or loops. Antisense compounds are routinely prepared linearlybut can be joined or otherwise prepared to be circular and/or branched.Antisense compounds can include constructs such as, for example, twostrands hybridized to form a wholly or partially double-strandedcompound or a single strand with sufficient self-complementarity toallow for hybridization and formation of a fully or partiallydouble-stranded compound. The two strands can be linked internallyleaving free 3′ or 5′ termini or can be linked to form a continuoushairpin structure or loop. The hairpin structure may contain an overhangon either the 5′ or 3′ terminus producing an extension of singlestranded character. The double stranded compounds optionally can includeoverhangs on the ends. Further modifications can include conjugategroups attached to one of the termini, selected nucleotide positions,sugar positions or to one of the internucleoside linkages.Alternatively, the two strands can be linked via a non-nucleic acidmoiety or linker group. When formed from only one strand, dsRNA can takethe form of a self-complementary hairpin-type molecule that doubles backon itself to form a duplex. Thus, the dsRNAs can be fully or partiallydouble stranded. Specific modulation of gene expression can be achievedby stable expression of dsRNA hairpins in transgenic cell lines. Whenformed from two strands, or a single strand that takes the form of aself-complementary hairpin-type molecule doubled back on itself to forma duplex, the two strands (or duplex-forming regions of a single strand)are complementary RNA strands that base pair in Watson-Crick fashion.

Once introduced to a system, the compounds of the invention may elicitthe action of one or more enzymes or structural proteins to effectcleavage or other modification of the target nucleic acid or may workvia occupancy-based mechanisms. In general nucleic acids (includingoligonucleotides) may be described as “DNA-like” (i.e., generally havingone or more 2′-deoxy sugars and, generally, T rather than U bases) or“RNA-like” (i.e., generally having one or more 2′-hydroxyl or2′-modified sugars and, generally U rather than T bases). Nucleic acidhelices can adopt more than one type of structure, most commonly the A-and B-forms. It is believed that, in general, oligonucleotides whichhave B-form-like structure are “DNA-like” and those which haveA-formlike structure are “RNA-like.” In some (chimeric) embodiments, anantisense compound may contain both A- and B-form regions.

The antisense compounds in accordance with this invention can comprisean antisense portion from about 5 to about 80 nucleotides (i.e. fromabout 5 to about 80 linked nucleosides) in length. This refers to thelength of the antisense strand or portion of the antisense compound. Inother words, a single-stranded antisense compound of the inventioncomprises from 5 to about 80 nucleotides, and a double-strandedantisense compound of the invention (such as a dsRNA, for example)comprises a sense and an antisense strand or portion of 5 to about 80nucleotides in length. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat this comprehends antisense portions of 3, 6, 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48,49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 nucleotides inlength, or any range therewithin.

In one embodiment, the antisense compounds of the invention haveantisense portions of 10 to 50 nucleotides in length. One havingordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this embodiesoligonucleotides having antisense portions of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50nucleotides in length, or any range therewithin. In some embodiments,the oligonucleotides are 15 nucleotides in length.

In one embodiment, the antisense or oligonucleotide compounds of theinvention have antisense portions of 12 or 13 to 30 nucleotides inlength. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that thisembodies antisense compounds having antisense portions of 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30nucleotides in length, or any range therewithin.

In an embodiment, the oligomeric compounds of the present invention alsoinclude variants in which a different base is present at one or more ofthe nucleotide positions in the compound. For example, if the firstnucleotide is an adenosine, variants may be produced which containthymidine, guanosine or cytidine at this position. This may be done atany of the positions of the antisense or dsRNA compounds. Thesecompounds are then tested using the methods described herein todetermine their ability to inhibit expression of a target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity,between the antisense compound and target is from about 40% to about60%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, is from about 60% to about 70%. In some embodiments,homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is from about 70% toabout 80%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identify orcomplementarity, is from about 80% to about 90%. In some embodiments,homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is about 90%, about 92%,about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%. about 98%, about 99% orabout 100%.

In an embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides, such as for example,nucleic acid molecules set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 comprise one ormore substitutions or modifications. In one embodiment, the nucleotidesare substituted with locked nucleic acids (LNA).

In an embodiment, the oligonucleotides target one or more regions of thenucleic acid molecules sense and/or antisense of coding and/ornon-coding sequences associated with FGF21 and the sequences set forthas SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2. The oligonucleotides are also targeted tooverlapping regions of SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2.

Certain preferred oligonucleotides of this invention are chimericoligonucleotides, “Chimeric oligonucleotides” or “chimeras,” in thecontext of this invention, are oligonucleotides which contain two ormore chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least onenucleotide. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one regionof modified nucleotides that confers one or more beneficial properties(such as, for example, increased nuclease resistance, increased uptakeinto cells, increased binding affinity for the target) and a region thatis a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNAhybrids. By way of example, RNase H is a cellular endonuclease whichcleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H,therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatlyenhancing the efficiency of antisense modulation of gene expression.Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorteroligonucleotides when chimeric oligonucleotides are used, compared tophosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotides hybridizing to the same targetregion. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gelelectrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridizationtechniques known in the art. In one an embodiment, a chimericoligonucleotide comprises at least one region modified to increasetarget binding affinity, and, usually, a region that acts as a substratefor RNAsc H. Affinity of an oligonucleotide for its target (in thiscase, a nucleic acid encoding ras) is routinely determined by measuringthe Tm of an oligonucleotide/target pair, which is the temperature atwhich the oligonucleotide and target dissociate; dissociation isdetected spectraphotometrically. The higher the Tm, the greater is theaffinity of the oligonucleotide for the target.

Chimeric antisense compounds of the invention may be formed as compositestructures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides,oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotides mimetics as described above.Such; compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids orgapmers. Representative United States patents that teach the preparationof such hybrid structures comprise, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,013,830; 5,149,797; 5,220,007; 5,256,775; 5,366,878; 5,403,711;5,491,133; 5,565,350; 5,623,065; 5,652,355; 5,652,356; and 5,700,922,each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

In an embodiment, the region of the oligonucleotide which is modifiedcomprises at least one nucleotide modified at the 2′ position of thesugar, most preferably a 2′-O-alkyl, 2′-O-alkyl-O-alkyl or2′-fluoro-modified nucleotide. In another embodiment, RNA modificationsinclude 2′fluoro, 2′-amino and 2′O-methyl modifications on the ribose ofpyrimidines, abasic residues or an inverted base at the 3′ end of theRNA. Such modifications are routinely incorporated into oligonucleotidesand these oligonucleotides have been shown to have a higher Tm (i.e.,higher target binding affinity) than; 2′-deoxyoligonucleotides against agiven target. The effect of such increased affinity is to greatlyenhance RNAi oligonucleotide inhibition of gene expression. RNAse H is acellular endonuclease that cleaves the RNA strand of RNA: DNA duplexes;activation of this enzyme therefore results in cleavage of the RNAtarget, and thus can greatly enhance the efficiency of RNAi inhibition.Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely demonstrated by gelelectrophoresis. In another embodiment, the chimeric oligonucleotide isalso modified to enhance nuclease resistance. Cells contain a variety ofexo- and endo-nucleases which can degrade nucleic acids. A number ofnucleotide and nucleoside modifications have been shown to make theoligonucleotide into which they are incorporated more resistant tonuclease digestion than the native oligodeoxynucleotide. Nucleaseresistance is routinely measured by incubating oligonucleotides withcellular extracts or isolated nuclease solutions and measuring theextent of intact oligonucleotide remaining over time, usually by gelelectrophoresis. Oligonucleotides which have been modified to enhancetheir nuclease resistance survive intact for a longer time thanunmodified oligonucleotides. A variety of oligonucleotide modificationshave been demonstrated to enhance or confer nuclease resistance.Oligonucleotides which contain at least one phosphorothioatemodification are presently more preferred. In some cases,oligonucleotide modifications which enhance target binding affinity arealso, independently, able to enhance nuclease resistance.

Specific examples of some preferred oligonucleotides envisioned for thisinvention include those comprising modified backbones, for example,phosphorothioates, phosphotriesters, methyl phosphonates, short chainalkyl or cycloalkyl intersugar linkages or short chain heteroatomic orheterocyclic intersugar linkages. Most preferred are oligonucleotideswith phosphorothioate backbones and those with heteroatom backbones,particularly CH2—NH—O—CH2, CH, —N(CH3)—O—CH2 [known as amethylene(methylimino) or MMI backbone], CH2—O—N (CH3)—CH2, CH2—N(CH3)—N (CH3)—CH2 and O—N (CH3)—CH2—CH2 backbone, wherein the nativephosphodiester backbone is represented as O—P—O—CH,). The amidebackbones disclosed by Dc Mesmaeker et al. (1995) Acc. Chem. Res.28:366-374 are also preferred. Also preferred are oligonucleotideshaving morpholino backbone structures (Summerton and Weller, U.S. Pat.No. 5,034,506). In other an embodiment, such as the peptide nucleic acid(PNA) backbone, the phosphodiester backbone of the oligonucleotide isreplaced with a polyamide backbone, the nucleotides being bound directlyor indirectly to the aza nitrogen atoms of the polyamide backbone.Oligonucleotides may also comprise one or more substituted sugarmoieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following atthe 2′ position; OH, SH, SCH3, F, OCN, OCH3 OCH3, OCH3 O(CH2)n CH3,O(CH2)n NH2 or O(CH2)n CH3 where n is from 1 to about 10; C1 to C10lower alkyl, alkoxyalkoxy, substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl or aralkyl;Cl; Br; CN; CF3; OCF3; O—, S—, or N-alkyl; O—, S—, or N-alkenyl; SOCH3;SO2 CH3; ONO2; NO2; N3; NH2; heteracycloalkyl; heterocycloalkaryl;aminoalkylamino; polyalkylamino; substituted silyl; an RNA cleavinggroup; a reporter group; an intercalator, a group for improving thepharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide; or a group forimproving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide and othersubstituents having similar properties. A preferred modificationincludes 2′-methoxyethoxy [2′—O—CH2 CH2 OCH3, also known as2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)]. Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy(2′—O—CH3), 2′-propoxy (2′-OCH2 CH2CH3) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). Similarmodifications may also be made at other positions on theoligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the3′terminal nucleotide and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide.Oligonucleotides may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyls inplace of the pentofuranosyl group.

Oligonucleotides may also include, additionally or alternatively,nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modificationsor substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleotidesinclude adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil(U). Modified nucleotides include nucleotides found only infrequently ortransiently in natural nucleic acids, e.g., hypoxanthine,6-methyladenine, 5-Me pyrimidines, particularly 5-methylcytosine (alsoreferred to as 5-methyl-2′ deoxycytosine and often referred to in theart as 5-Me-C), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (HMC), glycosyl HMC andgemobiosyl HMC, as well as synthetic nucleotides, e.g., 2-aminoadenine,2-(methylamino)adenine, 2-(imidazolylalkyl)adenine,2-(aminoalkylamino)adenine or other heterosubstituted alkyladenines,2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine, 5-bromouracil, 5′-hydroxymethyluracil,8-azaguanine, 7-deazaguanine, be included. 5-Me-C substitutions havebeen shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. andare presently preferred base substitutions.

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involveschemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties orconjugates which enhance the activity or cellular uptake of theoligonucleotide. Such moieties include but are not limited to lipidmoieties such as a cholesterol moiety, a cholesteryl moiety, analiphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues, a polyamine or apolyethylene glycol chain, or Adamantane acetic acid. Oligonucleotidescomprising lipophilic moieties, and methods for preparing sucholigonucleotides are known in the art, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,138,045, 5,218,105 and 5,459,255.

It is not necessary for all positions in a given oligonucleotide to beuniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementionedmodifications may be incorporated in a single oligonucleotide or even atwithin a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide. The presentinvention also includes oligonucleotides which are chimericoligonucleotides as hereinbefore defined.

In another embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule of the presentinvention is conjugated with another moiety including but not limited toabasic nucleotides, polyether, polyamine, polyamides, peptides,carbohydrates, lipid, or polyhydrocarbon compounds. Those skilled in theart will recognize that these molecules can be linked to one or more ofany nucleotides comprising the nucleic acid molecule at severalpositions on the sugar, base or phosphate group.

The oligonucleotides used in accordance with this invention may beconveniently and routinely made through the well-known technique ofsolid phase synthesis. Equipment for such synthesis is sold by severalvendors including Applied Biosystems. Any other means for such synthesismay also be employed; the actual synthesis of the oligonucleotides iswell within the talents of one of ordinary skill in the art. It is alsowell known to use similar techniques to prepare other oligonucleotidessuch as the phosphorothioates and alkylated derivatives. It is also wellknown to use similar techniques and commercially available modifiedamidites and controlled-pore glass (CPG) products such as biotin,fluorescein, acridine or psoralen-modified amidites and/or CPG(available from Glen Research, Sterling Va.) to synthesize fluorescentlylabeled, biotinylated or other modified oligonucleotides such ascholesterol-modified oligonucleotides.

In accordance with the invention, use of modifications such as the useof LNA monomers to enhance the potency, specificity and duration ofaction and broaden the routes of administration of oligonucleotidescomprised of current chemistries such as MOE, ANA, FANA, PS etc. Thiscan be achieved by substituting some of the monomers in the currentoligonucleotides by LNA monomers. The LNA modified oligonucleotide mayhave a size similar to the parent compound or may be larger orpreferably smaller. It is preferred that such LNA-modifiedoligonucleotides contain less than about 70%, more preferably less thanabout 60%. most preferably less than about 50% LNA monomers and thattheir sizes are between about 5 and 25 nucleotides, most preferablybetween about 12 and 20 nucleotides.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones comprise, but not limitedto, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates,phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkylphosphorates comprising 3′alkylene phosphorates and chiral phosphonates,phosphinates, phosphoramidates comprising 3-amino phosphoramidate andaminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates,thionoalkylphosphonates, thionalkylphosphotriesters, andboranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs ofthese, and those having inverted polarity wherein the adjacent pairs ofnucleoside units are linked 3′-5′ to 5′-3′ or 2′-5′ to 5′-2′. Varioussalts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of theabove phosphorus containing linkages comprise, but are not limited to,U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,305; 5,023,243; 5,177,196;5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131;5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925;5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,306; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799;5,587,361; and 5,625,050, each of which is herein incorporated byreference.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include aphosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chainalkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkylor cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chainheteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These comprisethose having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portionof a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfonicbackbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyland thioformacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamaticbackbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonateand sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N,O, S and CH2 component parts.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of theabove oligonucleosides comprise, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033;5,264,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967;5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289;5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312;5,633,360; 5,677,437; and 5,677,439, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and theinternucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units arereplaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained forhybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One sucholigomeric compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown tohave excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptidenucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of anoligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, inparticular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retainedand are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amideportion of the backbone. Representative United States patents that teachthe preparation of PNA compounds comprise, but are not limited to, U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can befound in Nielsen, et al. (1991) Science 254, 1497-1500.

In an embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotides withphosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatombackbones, and in particular—CH2—NH—O—CH2—, —CH2—N(CH3)—O—CH2—known as amethylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone,—CH2—O—N (CH3)—CH2—,—CH2N(CH3)—N(CH3) CH2—and—O—N(CH3)—CH2—CH2—wherein the nativephosphodiester backbone is represented as—O—P—O—CH2—of the abovereferenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the abovereferenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotideshaving morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat.No. 5,034,506.

Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugarmoieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following atthe 2′ position: OH; F; O—, S—, or N-alkyl; O—, S—, or N-alkynyl; O—, S—or N-alkynyl; or O alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynylmay be substituted or unsubstituted C to CO alkyl or C2 to CO alkenyland alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O (CH2)n OmCH3, O(CH2)n,OCH3,O(CH2)nNH2, O(CH2)nCH3, O(CH2)nONH2, and O(CH2nON(CH2)nCH3)2 where n andm can be from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides compriseone of the following at the 2′ position; C to CO, (lower alkyl,substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH,SCH3, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF3, OCF3, SOCH3, SO2CH3, ONO2, NO2, N3, NH2,heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino,substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, anintercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of anoligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic propertiesof an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties.A preferred modification comprises 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH2CH2OCH3,also known as 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxygroup. A further preferred modification comprises2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a O(CH2)2ON(CH3)2 group, also known as2′-DMAOE, as described in examples herein below, and2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′-O—CH2—O—CH2—N(CH2)2.

Other preferred modifications comprise 2-methoxy (2′-O CH3),2′-aminopropoxy (2′-O CH2CH2CH2NH2) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). Similarmodifications may also be made at other positions on theoligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugarmimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosylsugar. Representative United States patents that teach the preparationof such modified sugar structures comprise, but are not limited to, U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878;5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427;5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265;5,658,873; 5,670,633; and 5,700,920, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Oligonucleotides may also comprise nucleobase (often referred to in theart simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein,“unmodified” or “natural” nucleotides comprise the purine bases adenine(A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C)and uracil (U). Modified nucleotides comprise other synthetic andnatural nucleotides such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and otheralkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkylderivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl uracil andcytosine, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudo-uracil),4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl andother 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo,5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines,7-methylquanine and 7-methyladenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine,7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine.

Further, nucleotides comprise those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia of PolymerScience And Engineering; pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. I., ed. JohnWiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al., ‘AngewandleChemie, International Edition’, 1991, 30, page 613, and those disclosedby Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, ‘Antisense Research and Applications’,pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B. ca., CRC Press, 1993.Certain of these nucleotides are particularly useful for increasing thebinding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention. Thesecomprise 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and0-6 substituted purines, comprising 2-aminopropyladenine,5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine substitutionshave been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C.(Sanghvi, Y. S., Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., eds, ‘Antisense Researchand Applications’, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and arepresently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly whencombined with 2′-Omethoxyethyl sugar modifications.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of theabove noted modified nucleotides as well as other modified nucleotidescomprise, but are not limited to. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,808, as well as4,845,205; 5,130,302; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,566; 5,432,272;5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540;5,587,469; 5,596,091; 5,654,617; 5,750,692, and 5,681,941, each of whichis herein incorporated by reference.

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involveschemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties orconjugates, which enhance the activity, cellular distribution, orcellular uptake of the oligonucleotide.

Such moieties comprise but are not limited to, lipid moieties such as acholesterol moiety, cholic acid, a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol,a thiocholesterol, an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecylresidues, a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol ortriethylammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3H-phosphonate; apolyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain, or Adamantane acetic acid, apalmityl moiety, or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-toxycholesterol moiety.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of sucholigonucleotides conjugates comprise, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730;5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124;5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718;5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737;4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830;5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5.214,136; 5,245,022;5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098;5,371,241; 5,391,723; 5,416,203; 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667;5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371;5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, each of whichis herein incorporated by reference.

Drug discovery: The compounds of the present invention can also beapplied in the areas of drug discovery and target validation. Thepresent invention comprehends the use of the compounds and preferredtarget segments identified herein in drug discovery efforts to elucidaterelationships that exist between Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)polynucleotides and a disease state, phenotype, or condition. Thesemethods include detecting or modulating FGF21 polynucleotides comprisingcontacting a sample, tissue, cell or organism with the compounds of thepresent invention, measuring the nucleic acid or protein level of FGF21polynucleotides and/or a related phenotypic or chemical endpoint at sometime after treatment, and optionally comparing the measured value to anon-treated sample or sample treated with a further compound of theinvention. These methods can also be performed in parallel or incombination with other experiments to determine the function of unknowngenes for the process of target validation or to determine the validityof a particular gene product as a target for treatment or prevention ofa particular disease, condition, or phenotype.

Assessing Up-regulation or Inhibition of Gene Expression:

Transfer of an exogenous nucleic acid into a host cell or organism canbe assessed by directly detecting the presence of the nucleic acid inthe cell or organism. Such detection can be achieved by several methodswell known in the art. For example, the presence of the exogenousnucleic acid can be detected by Southern blot or by a polymerase chainreaction (PCR) technique using primers that specifically amplifynucleotide sequences associated with the nucleic acid. Expression of useexogenous nucleic acids can also be measured using conventional methodsincluding gene expression analysis. For instance, mRNA produced from anexogenous nucleic acid can be detected and quantified using a Northernblot and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).

Expression of RNA from the exogenous nucleic acid can also be detectedby measuring an enzymatic activity or a reporter protein activity. Forexample, antisense modulatory activity can be measured indirectly as adecrease or increase in target nucleic acid expression as an indicationthat the exogenous nucleic acid is producing the effector RNA. Based onsequence conservation, primers can be designed and used to amplifycoding regions of the target genes, initially, the most highly expressedcoding region from each gene can be used to build a model control gene,although any coding or non coding region can be used. Each control geneis assembled by inserting each coding region between a reporter codingregion and its poly(A) signal. These plasmids would produce an mRNA witha reporter gene in the upstream portion of the gene and a potential RNAstarget in the 3′ non-coding region. The effectiveness of individualantisense oligonucleotides would be assayed by modulation of thereporter gene. Reporter genes useful in the methods of the presentinvention include acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS), alkaline phosphatase(AP), beta galactosidase (LacZ), beta glucoronidase (GUS),chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), green fluorescent protein(GFP), red fluorescent protein (RFP), yellow fluorescent protein (YFP),cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), luciferase(Luc), nopaline synthase (NOS), octopine synthase (OCS), and derivativesthereof. Multiple selectable markers are available that conferresistance to ampicillin, bleomycin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin,hygromycin, kanamycin, lincomycin, methotrexate, phosphinothricin,puromycin, and tetracycline. Methods to determine modulation of areporter gene are well known in the art, and include, but are notlimited to, fluorometric methods (e.g. fluorescence spectroscopy,Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS), fluorescence microscopy),antibiotic resistance determination.

FGF21 protein and mRNA expression can be assayed using methods known tothose of skill in the art and described elsewhere herein. For example,immunoassays such as the ELISA can be used to measure protein levels,FGF21 ELISA assay kits are available commercially, e.g., from R&DSystems (Minneapolis, Minn.).

In embodiments, FGF21 expression (e.g., mRNA or protein) in a sample(e.g., cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro) treated using an antisenseoligonucleotide of the invention is evaluated by comparison with FGF21expression in a control sample. For example, expression of the proteinor nucleic acid can be compared using methods known to those of skill inthe art with that in a mock-treated or untreated sample. Alternatively,comparison with a sample treated with a control antisenseoligonucleotide (e.g., one having an altered or different sequence) canbe made depending on the information desired. In another embodiment, adifference in the expression of the FGF21 protein or nucleic acid in atreated vs. an untreated sample can be compared with the difference inexpression of a different nucleic acid (including any standard deemedappropriate by the researcher, e.g., a housekeeping gene) in a treatedsample vs. an untreated sample.

Observed differences can be expressed as desired, e.g., in the form of aratio or fraction, for use in a comparison with control. In embodiments,the level of FGF21 mRNA or protein, in a sample treated with anantisense oligonucleotide of the present invention, is increased ordecreased by about 1.25-fold to about 10-fold or more relative to anuntreated sample or a sample treated with a control nucleic acid. Inembodiments, the level of FGF21 mRNA or protein is increased ordecreased by at least about 1.25-fold, at least about 1,3-fold, at leastabout 1.4-fold, at least about 1.5-fold, at least about 1.6-fold, atleast about 1.7-fold, at least about 1.8-fold, at least about 2-fold, atleast about 2.5-fold, at least about 3-fold, at least about 3.5-fold, atleast about 4-fold, at least about 4.5-fold, at least about 5-fold, atleast about 5.5-fold, at least about 6-fold, at least about 6.5-fold, atleast about 7-fold, at least about 7.5-fold, as least about 8-fold, atleast about 8.5-fold, at least about 9-fold, at least about 9.5-fold, orat least about 10-fold or more.

Kits, Research Reagents, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics

The compounds of the present invention can be utilized for diagnostics,therapeutics, and prophylaxis, and as research reagents and componentsof kits. Furthermore, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able toinhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used bythose of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes orto distinguish between functions of various members of a biologicalpathway.

For use in kits and diagnostics and in various biological systems, thecompounds of the present invention, either alone or in combination withother compounds or therapeutics, are useful as tools in differentialand/or combinatorial analyses to elucidate expression patterns of aportion or the entire complement of genes expressed within cells andtissues.

As used herein the term “biological system” or “system” is defined asany organism, cell, cell culture or tissue that expresses, or is madecompetent to express products of the Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)genes. These include, but are not limited to, humans, transgenicanimals, cells, cell cultures, tissues, xenografts, transplants andcombinations thereof.

As one non limiting example, expression patterns within cells or tissuestreated with one or more antisense compounds are compared to controlcells or tissues not treated with antisense compounds and the patternsproduced are analyzed for differential levels of gene expression as theypertain, for example, to disease association, signaling pathway,cellular localization, expression level, size, structure or function ofthe genes examined. These analyses can be performed on stimulated orunstimulated cells and in the presence or absence of other compoundsthat affect expression patterns.

Examples of methods of gene expression analysis known in the art includeDNA arrays or microarrays, SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression),READS (restriction enzyme amplification of digested cDNAs), TOGA (totalgene expression analysis), protein arrays and proteomics, expressedsequence tag (EST) sequencing, subtractive RNA fingerprinting (SuRF),subtractive cloning, differential display (DD), comparative genomichybridization, FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) techniques andmass spectrometry methods.

The compounds of the invention are useful for research and diagnostics,because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding Fibroblastgrowth factor 21 (FGF21). For example, oligonucleotides that hybridizewith such efficiency and under such conditions as disclosed herein as tobe effective FGF21 modulators are effective primers or probes underconditions favoring gene amplification or detection, respectively. Theseprimers and probes are useful in methods requiring the specificdetection of nucleic acid molecules encoding FGF21 and in theamplification of said nucleic acid molecules for detection or for use infurther studies of FGF21. Hybridization of the antisenseoligonucleotides, particularly the primers and probes, of the inventionwith a nucleic acid encoding FGF21 can be detected by means known in theart. Such means may include conjugation of an enzyme to theoligonucleotide, radiolabeling of the oligonucleotide, or any othersuitable detection means. Kits using such detection means for detectingthe level of FGF21 in a sample may also be prepared.

The specificity and sensitivity of antisense are also harnessed by thoseof skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense compounds have beenemployed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states inanimals, including humans. Antisense oligonucleotide drugs have beensafely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinicaltrials are presently underway. It is thus established that antisensecompounds can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured tobe useful in treatment regimes for the treatment of cells, tissues andanimals, especially humans.

For therapeutics, an animal, preferably a human, suspected of having adisease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression ofFGF21 polynucleotides is treated by administering antisense compounds inaccordance with this invention. For example, in one non-limitingembodiment, the methods comprise the step of administering to the animalin need of treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of FGF21modulator. The FGF21 modulators of the present invention effectivelymodulate the activity of the FGF21 or modulate the expression of theFGF21 protein. In one embodiment, the activity or expression of FGF21 inan animal is inhibited by about 10% as compared to a control.Preferably, the activity or expression of FGF21 in an animal isinhibited by about 30%, More preferably, the activity or expression ofFGF21 in an animal is inhibited by 50% or more. Thus, the oligomericcompounds modulate expression of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)mRNA by at least 10%, by at least 50%, by at least 25%, by at least 30%,by at least 40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, byat least 75%, by at least 80%, by at least 85%, by at least 90%, by atleast 95%, by at least 98%, by at least 99%, or by 100% as compared to acontrol

In one embodiment, the activity or expression of Fibroblast growthfactor 21 (FGF21) and/or in an animal is increased by about 10% ascompared to a control. Preferably, the activity or expression of FGP21in an animal is increased by about 30%. More preferably, the activity orexpression of FGF21 in an animal is increased by 50% or more. Thus, theoligomeric compounds modulate expression of FGF21 mRNA by at least 10%,by at least 50%, by at least 25%, by at least 30%, by at least 40%, byat least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 75%, by atleast 80%, by at least 85%, by at least 90%, by at least 95%, by atleast 98%, by at least 99%, or by 100% as compared to a control.

For example, the reduction of the expression of Fibroblast growth factor21 (FGF21) may be measured in serum, blood, adipose tissue, liver or anyother body fluid, tissue or organ of the animal. Preferably, the cellscontained within said fluids, tissues or organs being analyzed contain anucleic acid molecule encoding FGF21 peptides and/or the FGF21 proteinitself.

The compounds of the invention can be utilized in pharmaceuticalcompositions by adding an effective amount of a compound to a suitablepharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Use of the compounds andmethods of the invention may also be useful prophylactically.

Conjugates

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involveschemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties orconjugates that enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellularuptake of the oligonucleotide. These moieties or conjugates can includeconjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primaryor secondary hydroxyl groups. Conjugate groups of the invention includeintercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethyleneglycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic propertiesof oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties ofoligomers. Typical conjugate groups include cholesterols, lipids,phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone,acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes. Groups thatenhance the pharmacokinetic properties, in the context of thisinvention, include groups that improve uptake, enhance resistance todegradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with thetarget nucleic acid. Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties,in the context of this invention, include groups that improve uptake,distribution, metabolism or excretion of the compounds of the presentinvention. Representative conjugate groups are disclosed inInternational Patent Application No. PCT/US92/09196, filed Oct. 23,1992, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which are incorporated herein byreference. Conjugate moieties include, but are not limited to, lipidmoieties such as a cholesterol moiety, cholic acid, a thioether, e.g.,hexyl-5-tritylthiol, a thiocholesterol, an aliphatic chain, e.g.,dodecandiol or undecyl residues, a phospholipid, e.g.,di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-Hphosphonate, a polyamine or apolyethylene glycol chain, or Adamantane acetic acid, a palmityl moiety,or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety.Oligonucleotides of the invention may also be conjugated to active drugsubstances, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen,suprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, (S)-(+)-pranoprofen, carprofen,dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, flufenamic acid, folinicacid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indomethicin, abarbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, anantibacterial or an antiobiotic.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of sucholigonucleotides conjugates include, but are not limited to. U.S. Pat.No. 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5.545,730;5,552,538; 5,578,717; 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124;5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718;5,608,046: 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737;4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830;5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022;5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098;5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5.451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667;5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585.481; 5,587,371;5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941.

Formulations

The compounds of the invention may also be admixed, encapsulated,conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, moleculestructures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes,receptor-targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or otherformulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption.Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of suchuptake, distribution and/or absorption-assisting formulations include,but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,921; 5,354,844; 5,416,016;5,459,127; 5,521,291; 5,543,165; 5,547,932; 5,593,020; 5,591,721;4,426,330; 4,534,899; 5,013,556; 5,108,921; 5,213,804; 5,227,170;5,264,221; 5,356,633, 5,395,619; 5,416,016, 5,417,978; 5,462,854;5,469,854; 5,512,295; 5,527,528; 5,534,259; 5,543,152; 5,556,948;5,580,575; and 5,595,756, each of which is herein incorporated byreference.

Although, the antisense oligonucleotides do not need to be administeredin the context of a vector in order to modulate a target expressionand/or function, embodiments of the invention relates to expressionvector constructs for the expression of antisense oligonucleotides,comprising promoters, hybrid promoter gene sequences and possess astrong constitutive promoter activity, or a promoter activity which canbe induced in the desired case.

In an embodiment, invention practice involves administering at least oneof the foregoing antisense oligonucleotides with a suitable nucleic aciddelivery system. In one embodiment, that system includes a non-viralvector operably linked to the polynucleotide. Examples of such nonviralvectors include the oligonucleotide alone (e.g. any one or more of SEQID NOS: 3 to 9) or in combination with a suitable protein,polysaccharide or lipid formulation.

Additionally suitable nucleic acid delivery systems include viralvector, typically sequence from at least one of an adenovirus,adenovirus-associated virus (AAV), helper-dependent adenovirus,retrovirus, or hemagglutinatin virus of Japan-liposome (HVJ) complex.Preferably, the viral vector comprises a strong eukaryotic promoteroperably linked to the polynucleotide e.g., a cytomegalovirus (CMV)promoter.

Additionally preferred vectors include viral vectors, fusion proteinsand chemical conjugates. Retroviral vectors include Moloney murineleukemia viruses and HIV-based viruses. One preferred HIV-based viralvector comprises at least two vectors wherein the gag and pol genes arefrom an HIV genome and the env gene is from another virus. DNA viralvectors are preferred. These vectors include pox vectors such asorthopox or avipox vectors, herpesvirus vectors such as a herpes simplex1 virus (HSV) vector. Adenovirus Vectors and Adeno-associated VirusVectors.

The antisense compounds of the invention encompass any pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compoundwhich, upon administration to an animal, including a human, is capableof providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metaboliteor residue thereof.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to physiologicallyand pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention:i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parentcompound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto. Foroligonucleotides, preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptablesalts and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860,which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions andformulations that include the antisense compounds of the invention. Thepharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administeredin a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatmentis desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may betopical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginaland rectal delivery). pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation ofpowders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal,epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteraladministration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous,intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial,e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration.

For treating tissues in the central nervous system, administration canbe made by, e.g., injection or infusion into the cerebrospinal fluid.Administration of antisense RNA into cerebrospinal fluid is described,e.g., in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2007/0117772, “Methods for slowingfamilial ALS disease progression,” incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

When it is intended that the antisense oligonucleotide of the presentinvention be administered to cells in the central nervous system,administration can be with one or more agents capable of promotingpenetration of the subject antisense oligonucleotide across theblood-brain barrier. Injection can be made, e.g., in the entorhinalcortex or hippocampus. Delivery of neurotrophic factors byadministration of an adenovirus vector to motor neurons in muscle tissueis described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,427,“Adenoviral-vector-mediated gene transfer into medullary motor neurons,”incorporated herein by reference. Delivery of vectors directly to thebrain, e.g., the striatum, the thalamus, the hippocampus, or thesubstantia nigra, is known in the art and described, e.g., in U.S. Pat.No. 6,756,523, “Adenovirus vectors for the transfer of foreign genesinto cells of the central nervous system particularly in brain,”incorporated herein by reference. Administration can be rapid as byinjection or made over a period of time as by slow infusion oradministration of slow release formulations.

The subject antisense oligonucleotides can also be linked or conjugatedwith agents that provide desirable pharmaceutical or pharmacodynamicproperties. For example, the antisense oligonucleotide can be coupled toany substance, known in the art to promote penetration or transportacross the blood-brain barrier, such as an antibody to the transferrinreceptor, and administered by intravenous injection. The antisensecompound can be linked with a viral vector, for example, that makes theantisense compound more effective and/or increases the transport of theantisense compound across the blood-brain barrier. Osmotic blood brainbarrier disruption can also be accomplished by, e.g., infusion of sugarsincluding, but not limited to, meso erythritol, xylitol, D(+) galactose,D(+) lactose, D(+) xylose, dulcitol, myo-inositol, L(−) fructose, D(−)mannitol, D(+) glucose, D(+) arabinose, D(−) arabinose, cellobiose, D(+)maltose, D(+) raffinose, L(+) rhamnose, D(+) melibiose, D(−) ribose,adonitol, D(+) arabitol, L(−) arabitol, D(+) fucose, L(−) fucose, D(−)lyxose, L(+) lyxose, and L(−) lyxose, or amino acids including, but notlimited to, glutamine, lysine, arginane, asparagine, aspartic acid,cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, methionine,phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, valine, andtaurine. Methods and materials for enhancing blood brain barrierpenetration are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,042, “Method forthe delivery of genetic material across the blood brain barrier,” U.S.Pat. No. 6,294,520, “Material for passage through the blood-brainbarrier,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,589, “Parenteral delivery systems,”all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The subject antisense compounds may be admixed, encapsulated, conjugatedor otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures ormixtures of compounds, for example, liposomes, receptor-targetedmolecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting inuptake, distribution and/or absorption. For example, cationic lipids maybe included in the formulation to facilitate oligonucleotide uptake. Onesuch composition shown to facilitate uptake is LIPOFECTIN (availablefrom GIBCO-BRL, Bethesda, Md.).

Oligonucleotides with at least one 2-O-methoxyethyl modification arebelieved to be particularly useful tor oral administration.Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administrationmay include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels,drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventionalpharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners andthe like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and thelike may also be useful.

The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention, which mayconveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared accordingto conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry.Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the activeingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). Ingeneral, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimatelybringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers orfinely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shapingthe product.

The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any ofmany possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets,capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, andenemas. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulatedas suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueoussuspensions may further contain substances that increase the viscosityof the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose,sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include, but arenot limited to, solutions, emulsions, foams and liposome-containingformulations. The pharmaceutical compositions and formulations of thepresent invention may comprise one or more penetration enhancers,carriers, excipients or other active or inactive ingredients.

Emulsions are typically heterogeneous systems of one liquid dispersed inanother in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 μm in diameter.Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersedphases, and the active drug that may be present as a solution in eitherthe aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase.Microemulsions are included as an embodiment of the present invention.Emulsions and their uses are well known in the art and are furtherdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860.

Formulations of the present invention include liposomal formulations. Asused in the present invention, the term “liposome” means a vesiclecomposed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer orbilayers. Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which havea membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interiorthat contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes arepositively charged liposomes that are believed to interact withnegatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. Liposomesthat are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged are believed to entrap DNArather than complex with it. Both cationic and noncationic liposomeshave been used to deliver DNA to cells.

Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which,as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specializedlipids. When incorporated into liposomes, these specialized lipidsresult in liposomes with enhanced circulation lifetimes relative toliposomes lacking such specialized lipids. Examples of stericallystabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forminglipid portion of the liposome comprises one or more glycolipids or isderivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as apolyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. Liposomes and their uses are furtherdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860,

The pharmaceutical formulations and compositions of the presentinvention may also include surfactants. The use of surfactants in drugproducts, formulations and in emulsions is well known in the art.Surfactants and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No.6,287,860, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, the present invention employs various penetrationenhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids,particularly oligonucleotides, in addition to aiding the diffusion ofnon-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers alsoenhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs. Penetration enhancers maybe classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e.,surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, andnon-chelating nonsurfactants. Penetration enhancers and their uses arefurther described is U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

One of skill in the art will recognize that formulations are routinelydesigned according to their intended use, i.e. route of administration.

Preferred formulations for topical administration include those in whichthe oligonucleotides of the invention are in admixture with a topicaldelivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acidesters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants. Preferred lipids andLiposomes include neutral (e.g. dioleoyl-phosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine,dimyristoylphospharidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline)negative (e.g. dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g.dioleoyltetramethylaminopropyl DOTAP and dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine DOTMA).

For topical or other administration, oligonucleotides of the inventionmay be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, inparticular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may becomplexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids. Preferred fattyacids and esters, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and theiruses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860.

Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders orgranules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutionsin water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tabletsor minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers,dispersing aids or binders may be desirable. Preferred oral formulationsare those in which oligonucleotides of the invention are administered inconjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants andchelators. Preferred surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters orsalts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof. Preferred bileacids/salts and fatty acids and their uses are further described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein by reference. Alsopreferred are combinations of penetration enhancers, for example, fattyacids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts. A particularlypreferred combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid andUDCA. Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-laurylether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether. Oligonucleotides of the inventionmay be delivered orally, in granular form including sprayed driedparticles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles. Oligonucleotidecomplexing agents and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No.6,287,860, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal orintraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutionsthat may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additivessuch as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compoundsand other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

Certain embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositionscontaining one or more oligomeric compounds and one or more otherchemotherapeutic agents that function by a non-antisense mechanism.Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited tocancer chemotherapeutic drugs such as daunorubicin, daunomycin,dactintomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin,bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside,bischlorocthyl-nitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D,mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen,dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine,mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea,nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercapropurine,6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin,4-hydroxyperoxycyclo-phosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU),5′-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol,vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, innotecan,topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol(DES). When used with the compounds of the invention, suchchemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e.g., 5-FU andoligonucleotide), sequentially (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide for aperiod of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide), or in combinationwith one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX andoligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide).Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs,including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir andganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions of the invention.Combinations of antisense compounds and other non-antisense drugs arealso within the scope of this invention. Two or more combined compoundsmay be used together or sequentially.

In another related embodiment, compositions of the invention may containone or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targetedto a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compoundstargeted to a second nucleic acid target. For example, the first targetmay be a particular antisense sequence of Fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21), and the second target may be a region from another nucleotidesequence. Alternatively, compositions of the invention may contain twoor more antisense compounds targeted to different regions of the sameFibroblast growth factor 25 (FGF21) nucleic acid target. Numerousexamples of antisense compounds are illustrated herein and others may beselected from among suitable compounds known in the art. Two or morecombined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

Dosing:

The formulation of therapeutic compositions and their subsequentadministration (dosing) is believed to be within the skill of those inthe art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of thedisease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting fromseveral days to several months, or until a cure is effected or adiminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedulescan be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body ofthe patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimumdosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages mayvary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides,and can generally be estimated based on EC50s found to be effective invitro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 μg to100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily,weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years. Persons ofordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates fordosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drugin bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may bedesirable to have the patient undergo maintenance therapy to prevent therecurrence of the disease state, wherein the oligonucleotide isadministered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 μg to 100 g per kgof body weight, once or more daily, 10 once every 20 years.

In embodiments, a patient is treated with a dosage of drug that is atleast about 1, at least about 2, at least about 3, at least about 4, atleast about 5, at least about 6, at least about 7, at least about 8, atleast about 9, at least about 10, at least about 15, at least about 20,at least about 25, at least about 30, at least about 35, at least about40, at least about 45, at least about 50, at least about 60, at leastabout 70, at least about 80, at least about 90, or at least about 100mg/kg body weight. Certain injected dosages of antisenseoligonucleotides axe described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 7,563,884,“Antisense modulation of PTPIB expression,” incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosedembodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the breadthand scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of theabove described embodiments.

All documents mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference. Allpublications and patent documents cited in this application areincorporated by reference for all purposes to the same extent as if eachindividual publication or patent document were so individually denoted.By their citation of various references in this document, Applicants donot admit any particular reference is “prior art” to their invention.Embodiments of inventive compositions and methods are illustrated in thefollowing examples.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting Examples serve to illustrate selectedembodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated that variations inproportions and alternatives in elements of the components shown will beapparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope ofembodiments of the present invention.

Example 1 Design of Antisense Oligonucleotides Specific for a NucleicAcid Molecule Antisense to a Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) and/ora Sense Strand of FGF21 Polynucleotide

As indicated above the term “oligonucleotide specific for” or“oligonucleotide targets” refers to an oligonucleotide having a sequence(i) capable of forming a stable complex with a portion of the targetedgene, or (ii) capable of forming a stable duplex with a portion of anmRNA transcript of the targeted gene.

Selection of appropriate oligonucleotides is facilitated by usingcomputer programs (e.g. IDT AntiSense Design, IDT OligoAnalyzer) thatautomatically identify in each given sequence subsequences of 39-25nucleotides that will form hybrids with a target polynucleotide sequencewith a desired melting temperature (usually 50-60° C.) and will not formself-dimers or other complex secondary structures.

Selection of appropriate oligonucleotides is further facilitated byusing computer programs that automatically align nucleic acid sequencesand indicate regions of identity or homology. Such programs are used tocompare nucleic acid sequences obtained, for example, by searchingdatabases such as GenBank or by sequencing PCR products. Comparison ofnucleic acid sequences from a range of genes and intergenic regions of agiven genome allows the selection of nucleic acid sequences that displayan appropriate degree of specificity to the gene of interest. Theseprocedures allow the selection of oligonucleotides that exhibit a highdegree of complementarity to target nucleic acid sequences and a lowerdegree of complementarity to other nucleic acid sequences in a givengenome. One skilled in the art will realize that there is considerablelatitude in selecting appropriate regions of genes for use in thepresent invention.

An antisense compound is “specifically hybridizable” when binding of thecompound to the target nucleic acid interferes with the normal functionof the target nucleic acid to cause a modulation of function and/oractivity, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoidnon-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target nucleicacid sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired,i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays ortherapeutic treatment, and under conditions in which assays areperformed in the case of in vitro assays.

The hybridization properties of the oligonucleotides described hereincan be determined by one or more in vitro assays as known in the art.For e.g., the properties of the oligonucleotides described herein can beobtained by determination of binding strength between the target naturalantisense and a potential drug molecules using melting curve assay.

The binding strength between the target natural antisense and apotential drug molecule (Molecule) can be estimated using any of theestablished methods of measuring the strength of intermolecularinteractions, for example, a melting curve assay.

Melting curve assay determines the temperature at which a rapidtransition from double-stranded to single-stranded conformation occursfor the natural antisense/molecule complex. This temperature is widelyaccepted as a reliable measure of the interaction strength between thetwo molecules.

A melting curve assay can be performed using a cDNA copy of the actualnatural antisense RNA molecule or a synthetic DNA or RNA nucleotidecorresponding to the binding site of the Molecule Multiple kitscontaining all necessary reagents to perform this assay are available(e.g. Applied Biosystems Inc. MeltDoctor kit). These kits include asuitable buffer solution containing one of the double strand DNA (dsDNA)binding dyes (such as ABI HRM dyes, SYBR Green, SYTO, etc). Theproperties of the dsDNA dyes are such that they emit almost nofluorescence in free form, but are highly fluorescent when bound todsDNA.

To perform the assay the cDNA or a corresponding oligonucleotide aremixed with Molecule in concentrations defined by the particularmanufacturer's protocols. The mixture is heated to 95° C. to dissociateall preformed dsDNA complexes, then slowly cooled to room temperature orother lower temperature defined by the kit manufacturer to allow the DNAmolecules to anneal. The newly formed complexes are then slowly heatedto 95° C. with simultaneous continuous collection of data on the amountof fluorescence that is produced by the reaction. The fluorescenceintensity is inversely proportional to the amounts of dsDNA present inthe reaction. The data can be collected using a real time PCR instrumentcompatible with the kit (e.g. ABI's StepOne Plus Real Time PCR System orlightTyper instrument, Roche Diagnostics, Lewes, UK).

Melting peaks are constructed by plotting the negative derivative offluorescence with respect to temperature (−d(Fluorscence)/dT) on they-axis) against temperature (x-axis) using appropriate software (forexample lightTyper (Roche) or SDS Dissociation Curve, ABI). The data isanalyzed to identify the temperature of the rapid transition from dsDNAcomplex to single strand molecules. This temperature is called Tm and isdirectly proportional to the strength of interaction between the twomolecules. Typically, Tm will exceed 40° C.

Example 2 Modulation of FGF21 Polynucleotides—Treatment of MCF-7 Cellswith Antisense Oligonucleotides

All antisense oligonucleotides used in Example 2 were designed asdescribed in Example 1. The manufacturer (IDT Inc. of Coralville, Iowa)was instructed to manufacture the designed phosphothioate bondoligonucleotides and provided the designed phosphothioate analogs shownin Table 1. The asterisk designation between nucleotides indicates thepresence of phosphothioate bond. The oligonucleotides required for theexperiment in Example 2 can be synthesized using any appropriate stateof the art method, for example the method used by IDT: on solid support,such as a 5 micron controlled pore glass bead (CPG), usingphosphoramidite monomers (normal nucleotides with all active groupsprotected with protection groups, e.g., trityl group on sugar, benzoylon A and C and N-2-isobutyryl on G). Protection groups prevent theunwanted reactions during oligonucleotide synthesis. Protection groupsare removed at the end of the synthesis process. The initial nucleotideis linked to the solid support through the 3′ carbon and the synthesisproceeds in the 3′ to 5′direction. The addition of a new base to agrowing oligonucleotide chain takes place in four steps; 1) theprotection group is removed from the 5′ oxygen of the immobilizednucleotide using trichloroacetic acid; 2) the immobilized and thenext-in-sequence nucleotides are coupled together using tetrazole, thereaction proceeds through a tetrazolyl phosphoramidite intermediate; 3)the unreacted free nucleotides and reaction byproducts are washed awayand the unreacted immobilized oligonucleotides are capped to preventtheir participation in the next round of synthesis; capping is achievedby acetylating the free 5′ hydroxyl using acetic anhydride and N-methylimidazole; 4) to stabilize the bond between the nucleotides thephosphorus is oxidized using iodine and water, if a phosphodiester bondis to be produced, or Beaucage reagent (3H-1,2-benzodithiol-3-one-1,1-dioxide), if a phosphothioate bond is desired. By alternating the twooxidizing agents, a chimeric backbone can be constructed. The four stepcycle described above is repeated for every nucleotide in the sequence.When the complete sequence is synthesized, the oligonucleotide iscleaved from the solid support and deprotected using ammonium hydroxideat high temperature. Protection groups are washed away by desalting andthe remaining oligonucleotides are lyophilized. To perform theexperiment designed in Example 2. MCF-7 cells from ATCC (cat#HTB-22)were grown in growth media were grown in growth media (DMEM (Mediatechcat #MT 10-013-CV) +10% FBS (Mediatechcat#MT35-011-CV)+penicillin/streptomycin (Mediatech cat#MT30-002-CI)) at37° C. and 5% CO₂. One day before the experiment the cells were replatedat the density of 1.5×10⁵/ml into 6 well plates and incubated at 37° C.and 5% CO₂ overnight. On the day of the experiment the media in the 6well plates was changed to fresh growth media. Oligonucleotides shippedby the manufacturer in lyophilized form were diluted to theconcentration of 20 μM in deionized RNAse/DNAse-free water. Two μl ofthis solution was incubated with 400 μl of OptiMEM media (Gibcocat#31985-070) and 4 μl of Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen cat#11668019)at room temperature for 20 min, then applied dropwise to one well of the6 well plate with MCF-7 cells. Similar mixture including 2 μl of waterinstead of the oligonucleotide solution was used for themock-transfected controls. After 3-18 h of incubation at 37° C. and 5%CO₂ the media was changed to fresh growth media. 48 h after addition ofantisense oligonucleotides the media was removed and RNA was extractedfrom the cells using SV Total RNA Isolation System from Promega(cat#Z3105) or RNeasy Total RNA Isolation kit from Qiagen (cat#74181)following the manufacturers' instructions. 600 ng of extracted RNA wasadded to the reverse transcription reaction performed using Verso cDNAkit from Thermo Scientific (cat#AB1453B) or High Capacity cDNA ReverseTranscription Kit (cat#Z368813) as described in the manufacturer'sprotocol. The cDNA from this reverse transcription reaction was used tomonitor gene expression by real time PCR. The principle of the real timePCR procedure is based on the ability of a polymerase chain reaction(PCR) to specifically amplify a fragment of the DNA or cDNA molecule ofinterest and thus make it detectable and quantifiable. PCR reaction iscatalyzed by an enzyme called DNA polymerase. DNA polymerases areenzymes that are able to build a complementary DNA strand on an existingDNA or cDNA template starting at the end of a stretch of doublestrandedDNA which can be as short as 18-22 nucleotides. For practical purposesin a PCR reaction two short synthetic DNA fragments complementary to thetarget DNA or cDNA sequence (called forward and reverse primers) areused to provide a starting point for DNA polymerase. The reaction isconducted in a buffer with appropriate pH and salt concentrations whichalso contains cofactors necessary for the DNA polymerase activity andthe building blocks for the newly created complementary DNA chain(deoxynucleotide triphosphates or dNTPs). Each PCR cycle will double thenumber of copies of the fragment of interest using forward or reverseprimer in alternating fashion to initiate the reaction. Thermostable DNApolymerases used in PCR reactions are active at temperatures up to 72°C. and are able to withstand heating to 95° C. without losing activity.Thermostable DNA polymerases were originally purified from thermostablemicroorganisms populating thermal vents. Eventually geneticallyengineered versions of these DNA polymerases with improvedcharacteristics were developed, for example AmpliTaq and AmpliTaqGoldenzymes (Applied Biosystems Inc.). As opposed to conventional PCR, realtime PCR reactions are able to not only amplify but also simultaneouslyquantify a DNA or cDNA molecule of interest. Quantification in absolutenumber of copies or in relative numbers normalized to aninvestigator-specified DNA sample is possible. The key difference ofreal time PCR as compared to standard PCR reaction is that the amountsof amplified DNA are measured as the reaction progresses in real time.Common methods for detection of products in real-time PCR includeintercalation dyes that fluoresce when associated with double-strandedDNA and fluorescent sequence-specific DNA probes. DNA probes areoligonucleotides complementary to the DNA of interest that are labeledwith a fluorophore covalently attached to the 5′-end of theoligonucleotide probe and a quencher attached at the 3′-end. Severaldifferent fluorophores (e.g. 6-carboxyfluorescein, FAM, ortetrachlorofluorescin, TET) and quenchers (e.g. tetramethylrhodamine,TAMRA, or dihydrocyclopyrroloindole tripeptide minor groove binder, MGB)are commonly used. As long as both fluorophore and quencher are attachedto one oligonucleotide molecule the fluorescence emitted by thefluorophore upon excitation is quenched by the quencher via FRET(fluorescence resonance energy transfer). The probes are designed to becomplimentary to the DNA region between the PCR primers used in thereaction. As the DNA polymerase extends the primer, due to its 5′ to 3′exonuclease activity it also degrades the probe. Degradation of theprobe separates the fluorophore from the quencher, thus allowing theemitted fluorescence to escape. Fluorescence released at each PCR cycleis directly proportional to the amount of DNA template present in thePCR. Due to limited amounts of probe and dNTPs present in the reactionand eventual loss of polymerase activity most PCS reactions reach aplateau stage when the number of copies does not change in successivecycles. This represents a significant limitation for using conventionalPCR where all reactions are assessed after a set number of cycles forDNA quantification. Monitoring fluorescence intensity at each cycleallows comparing individual PCR reaction in their linear amplification,not plateau, stage thus avoiding this limitation. To ensure that thedifference in quantities of the DNA of interest between the samples wasnot due to different amounts of input RNA/cDNA, it is usually necessaryto normalise expression of a target gene to a control gene unaffected bythe test conditions. Real time PCR reaction can be conducted using areal time PCR machine such as StepOne Plus Real Time PCR Machine(Applied Biosystems).

Real time PCR reaction used in Example 2 was conducted using ABI TaqmanGene Expression Mix (cat#4369510) and primers/probes designed by ABI(Applied Biosystems Taqman Gene Expression Assay: Hs00173927_m1 byApplied Biosystems Inc., Foster City Calif.). The following PCR cyclewas used: 50° C. for 2 min, 95° C. for 10 mm. 40 cycles of (95° C. for15 seconds, 60° C. for 1 min) using StepOne Plus Real Time PCR Machine(Applied Biosystems). Fold change in gene expression after treatmentwith antisense oligonucleotides was calculated based on the differencein 18S-normalized dC-t values between treated and mock-transfectedsamples.

Results: Real time PCR results show that the levels of the FGF21 mRNA inMCF-7 cells are significantly increased 48 h after treatment with theoligos designed to FGF21 antisense Hs.69747 (FIG. 1).

Example 3 Modulation of FGF21 Polynucleotides—Treatment of HepG2 Cellswith Antisense Oligonucleotides

All antisense oligonucleotides used in Example 3 were designed asdescribed in Example 1. The manufacturer (IDT Inc. of Coralville, Iowa)was instructed to manufacture the designed phosphothioate bondoligonucleotides and provided the designed phosphothioate analogs shownin Table 1. The asterisk designation between nucleotides indicates thepresence of phosphothioate bond. The oligonucleotides required for theexperiment in Example 3 can be synthesized using any appropriate stateof the art method, for example the method used by IDT: on solid support,such as a 5 micron controlled pore glass bead (CPG), usingphosphorsmidite monomers (normal nucleotides with all active groupsprotected with protection groups, e.g. trityl group on sugar, benzoyl onA and C and N-2-isobutyryl on G). Protection groups prevent the unwantedreactions during oligonucleotide synthesis. Protection groups areremoved at the end of the synthesis process. The initial nucleotide islinked to the solid support through the 3⁺carbon and the synthesisproceeds in the 3′ to 5′direction. The addition of a new base to agrowing oligonucleotide chain takes place in four steps: 1) theprotection group is removed from the 5′ oxygen of the immobilizednucleotide using trichloroacetic acid; 2) the immobilized and thenext-in-sequence nucleotides are coupled together using tetrazole; thereaction proceeds through a tetrazolyl phosphoramidite intermediate; 3)the unreacted free nucleotides and reaction byproducts are washed awayand the unreacted immobilized oligonucleotides are capped to preventtheir participation in the next round of synthesis; capping is achievedby acetylating the free 5′ hydroxyl using acetic anhydride and N-methylimidazole; 4) to stabilize the bond between the nucleotides thephosphorus is oxidized using iodine and water, if a phosphodiester bondis to be produced, or Beaucage reagent(3H-1,2-benzodithiol-3-one-1,1-dioxide), if a phosphothioate bond isdesired. By alternating the two oxidizing agents, a chimeric backbonecan be constructed. The four step cycle described above is repeated forevery nucleotide in the sequence. When the complete sequence issynthesized, the oligonucleotide is cleaved from the solid support anddeprotected using ammonium hydroxide at high temperature. Protectiongroups are washed away by desalting and the remaining oligonucleotidesare lyophilized.

To perform the experiment designed in Example 3, HepG2 cells from ATCC(cat#HB-8065) were grown in growth media (MEM/EBSS (Hyclone cat#SH30024, or Mediatech cat #MT-10-010-CV) +10% FBS (Mediatechcat#MT35-011-CV)+ penicillin/streptomycin (Mediatech cat#MT30-002-CI))at 37° C. and 5% CO2. One day before the experiment the cells werereplated at the density of 0.5×104/ml into 6 well plates and incubatedat 3° C. and 5% CO2 overnight. On the day of the experiment the media inthe 6 well plates was changed to fresh growth media.

Oligonucleotides shipped by the manufacturer in lyophilized form werediluted to the concentration of 20 μM in deionized RNAsc/DNAse-freewater. Two μl of this solution was incubated with 400 μl of QptiMEMmedia (Gibco cat#31985-070) and 4 μl of Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogenecat#11668019) at room temperature for 20 min, then applied dropwise toone well of the 6 well plate with HepG2 cells. Similar mixture including2 μl of water instead of the oligonucleotide solution was used for themock-transfected controls. After 3-18 h of incubation at 37° C. and 5%CO2 the media was changed to fresh growth media. 48 h after addition ofantisense oligonucleotides the media was removed and RNA was extractedfrom the cells using SV Total RNA Isolation System from Promega(cat#Z3105) or RNeasy Total RNA Isolation kit from Qiagen (cat#74181)following the manufacturers' instructions. 600 ng of extracted RNA wasadded to the reverse transcription reaction performed using Verso cDNAkit from Thermo Scientific (cat#AB1453B) or High Capacity cDNA ReverseTranscription Kit (cat#4368813) as described in the manufacturer'sprotocol. The cDNA from this reverse transcription reaction was used tomonitor gene expression by real time PCR using ABI Taqman GeneExpression Mix (cat#4369510) and primers/probes designed by ABI (AppliedBiosystems Taqman Gene Expression Assay: Hs00173927_ml by AppliedBiosystems Inc., Foster City Calif.). The following PCR cycle was used:50° C. for 2 min, 95° C. for 10 min, 40 cycles of (95° C. for 15seconds, 60° C. for 1 min) using StepOne Plus Real Time PCR Machine(Applied Biosystems). Fold change in gene expression after treatmentwith antisense oligonucleotides was calculated based on the differencein 18S-normalized dCt values between treated and mock-transfectedsamples.

Results: Real time PCR results show that the levels of the FGF21 mRNA inHepG2 cells are significantly increased 48 h after treatment with one ofthe oligos designed to FGF21 antisense Hs.69747 (FIG. 2).

Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respectto one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modificationswill occur to others skilled in the an upon the reading andunderstanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. Inaddition, while a particular feature of the invention may have beendisclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, suchfeature may be combined with one or more other features of the otherimplementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given orparticular application.

The Abstract of the disclosure will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (Canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
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 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
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 13. (canceled)
 14. A method of upregulating a function of and/or the expression, of a Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) gene in mammalian cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro comprising: contacting said cells or tissues with at least one short interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotide 19 to 30 nucleotides in length, said at least one siRNA oligonucleotide being specific for a natural antisense polynucleotide of a Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) polynucleotide wherein said natural antisense polynucleotide is selected from SEQ ID NO: 2 and, upregulating a function of and/or the expression of Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in mammalian cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said polynucleotide is non-overlapping with the Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) polynucleotide.
 16. (canceled)
 17. A synthetic, modified oligonucleotide of 10 to 30 nucleotides in length comprising at least one modification wherein the at least one modification is selected from: at least one modified sugar moiety; at least one modified internucleotide linkage; at least one modified nucleotide, and combinations thereof; wherein said oligonucleotide is an antisense compound which hybridizes to a natural antisense polynucleotide having SEQ ID NO: 2 and upregulates the function and/or expression of a Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) gene in vivo or in vitro as compared to a normal control.
 18. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein the at least one modification comprises an internucleotide linkage selected from the group consisting of: phosphorothioate, alkylphosphonate, phosphorodithioate, alkylphosphonothioate, phosphoramidate, carbamate, carbonate, phosphate triester, acetamidate, carboxymethyl ester, and combinations thereof.
 19. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein said oligonucleotide comprises at least one phosphorothioate internucleotide linkage.
 20. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein said oligonucleotide comprises a backbone of phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages.
 21. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified nucleotide, said modified nucleotide selected from: a peptide nucleic acid, a locked nucleic acid (LNA), analogue, derivative, and a combination thereof.
 22. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a plurality of modifications, wherein, said modifications comprise modified nucleotides selected from: phosphorothioate, alkylphosphonate, phosphorodithioate, alkylphosphonothioate, phosphoramidate, carbamate, carbonate, phosphate triester, acetamidate, carboxymethyl ester, and a combination thereof.
 23. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, whereto the oligonucleotide comprises a plurality of modifications, wherein, said modifications comprise modified nucleotides selected from: peptide nucleic acids, locked nucleic acids (LNA), analogues, derivatives, and a combination thereof.
 24. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified sugar moiety selected, from: a 2′-O-methoxyethyl modified sugar moiety, a 2′-methoxy modified sugar moiety, a 2′-O-alkyl modified sugar moiety, a bicyclic sugar moiety, and. a combination thereof.
 25. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a plurality of modifications, wherein said modifications comprise modified sugar moieties selected from: a 2-O-methoxyethyl modified sugar moiety, a 2-methoxy modified sugar moiety, a 2′-O-alkyl modified sugar moiety, a bicycylic sugar moiety, and a combination thereof.
 26. (canceled)
 27. (canceled)
 28. (canceled)
 29. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises the sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 3 to
 9. 30. A composition comprising one or more oligonucleotides according to claim 17 and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
 31. The composition of claim 30, wherein the oligonucleotides have at least about 40% sequence identity as compared to any one of the nucleotide sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 3 to
 9. 32. The composition of claim 30, wherein the oligonucleotides comprise nucleotide sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 3 to
 9. 33. The composition of claim 32, wherein the oligonucleotides set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 9 comprise one or more modifications or substitutions.
 34. The composition of claim 33, wherein the one or more modifications are selected from: phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate, peptide nucleic acid, locked nucleic acid (LNA) molecules, and combinations thereof.
 35. (canceled)
 36. (canceled)
 37. A method of identifying and selecting at least one oligonucleotide for in vivo administration comprising: selecting a target polynucleotide associated with a disease state; identifying at least one oligonucleotide comprising at least five consecutive nucleotides which are complementary to the selected target polynucleotide or to a polynucleotide that is antisense to the selected target polynucleotide; measuring the thermal melting point of a hybrid of an antisense oligonucleotide and the target polynucleotide or the polynucleotide that is antisense to the selected target polynucleotide under stringent hybridization conditions; and selecting at least one oligonucleotide for in vivo administration based on the information obtained. 